CECAFA 2009 results: Sudan’s El-Merikkh wins all three matches to quarter finals

From Sudan Radio Service's producer Francis Butili on Sunday (!) :) 05 July 2009 (Khartoum):

The 2009 CECAFA football tournament is being held this year in Sudan.

Sudan Radio Service producer Francis Butili pursues his coverage of the event with this report.

“Sudan’s El-Merikkh has pushed itself to the top of this year’s CECAFA tournament by winning all three matches clean for the quarter finals. On Saturday, striker Faisal Ajab put icing on the pudding by nailing a goal for El-Merikkh in their last Group A match against Kenya’s Mathare United in Omdurman.

The sports editor for Khartoum Monitor newspaper, Dominic John, analyses El-Merikkh’s chances of success in the tournament. He says all is going to be well for the Sudanese champions:

[Dominic John]:“For sure, 100%, El-Merikkh will get the trophy but it has problem in organizing its defense. Their defense is good, they need re-organization but they will reach the finals because the teams they will meet in the quarter-finals are not of that standard. They are hosting this tournament and have practiced well. Their victory for the semi-final is sure if they meet Rwanda’s Atraco in the coming match.”

Rwanda’s Atraco clings to third position after Mathare by beating Djibouti’s Kartileh 5-0 on Saturday.

On Friday, TP Mazembe of the Congo made a fierce comeback by pounding Somalia’s Benadir Telecom 8-1, giving them a do-or-die chance on Sunday before Tanzania’s Prison’s Club in Khartoum.

Prisons are expected to put on a brave performance after losing to Uganda’s Kampala City Council Club 3-1 on Friday. On the same day in Port Sudan, Kenya’s Tusker beat Zanzibar’s Miembieni 6-0 and Sudan’s Hay El-Arab drew 1-1 with Burundi’s InterStars.”

Francis Butili was reporting from Khartoum on Sunday.

- - -

From Goal.com by James Momanyi, Thursday 02 Jul 2009:
Kabagambe Signs For Sudan’s Al-Neel While With Atraco For CECAFA Championship - 

The Rwandan club is offered Nigerian Abdul Karim Yekini as a makeover as part of deal.

Former Ugandan International, Joseph Kabagambe threw the Atraco FC camp into shock on Tuesday evening as he sealed a deal with a Sudanese top side, Al-Neel FC. The six-month loan deal ruled Kabagambe out of the Kagame Club Championships that kicked off on Tuesday.

Kabagambe was quoted in The New Times saying that he was excited to join the Sudanese club and hopes for the best as his career takes a dramatic turn. "I am happy that after a lot of phone calls from my bosses in Rwanda, I was finally allowed to move. Let me try my chance here," said Kabagambe.

The Hasahisa based club, which is placed third on the Sudan league table, reportedly gained interest in the player after he scored a beautiful goal in their 2-1 loss to El Merreikh in a Champions League return leg in Khartoum two months ago.

According to the Sudanese side, they are ready to give Atraco Nigerian forward Abdul Karim Yekini in exchange. "This is to inform you that after a lengthy discussion with in our board members, we have agreed that our player Joseph Kabagambe should be loaned to your club in exchange of a Nigerian player whom we are interested in. We give Kabagambe permission to discuss personal terms," stated the Atraco release letter signed by vice-president Issa Ngeze.

However, Atraco coach Sam Timbe was a disappointed man and said the player should have first accomplished the mission he came for in Sudan, that of playing in the Kagame Club championship.

"I am very disappointed with Kabagambe because I talked with him and advised him on how to go about it and first to put-up a good show and attract better deals," explained Timbe, the former SC Villa and Police coach in Uganda.

Later on Tuesday evening, Sudanese top dogs, El Mereikh hammered Atraco 6-1 in the second group "A" match played at the El Mereikh Stadium in the ongoing CECAFA Club Championships.

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From The New Times (via AllAfrica) by Martha Ayuro in Khartoum and Hamza Nkuutu, Thursday 02 July 2009:
Rwanda: Kabagambe Fakes Letter to Join Al-Neel

Kigali — Atraco FC's attacking winger Joseph Kabagambe's transfer to Sudanese side Al-Neel has hit a snag after confirmed reports that the player has failed to get an International Transfer Certificate (ITC).

The former SC Villa player has confessed that he actually presented a forged release letter because Atraco officials had refused to hold talks with Al-Neel. "I had no alternative but to ask my people in Kampala to forge something and mail it to the Al-Neel team. These Atraco people will not stop me from moving because it's my golden chance," said a confused Kabagambe at the Palace Hotel in Northern Khartoum on Wednesday.

- - -

From The Monitor, Uganda (via AllAfrica) Thursday 02 July 2009:
Uganda: Kabagambe in Forgery Scandal

The seemingly good news of Joseph Kabagambe's move from Atraco to Sudan's Al-Neel FC has turned sour after the deal fell through because of some irregularities.

The former Express and SC Villa midfielder pocketed US$10,000 (Shs21m) as sign-on fee after putting pen to paper on a six month loan Al-Neel documents. But he failed to get an International Transfer Certificate (ITC).

A teary Kabagambe told Daily Monitor that he forged the transfer letter from Atraco so he could get the move through subtly and then wait for his contract to expire officially in a few days, after which he would get his ITC and transfer normally.

"I had no alternative but to use my friends in Kampala to forge the letter and email it to the agent of Al-Neel. This is a juicy deal I needed so badly," said Kabagambe.

Note from Sudan Watch Ed:  Today I have been unable the website of Sudan Radio Service. The page won't load. Here's saying a big warm thank you to SRS for emailing me their news bulletins and this latest news on the football matches in Sudan.  This site, Sudan Watch, has received an increase in visits from people around the world searching for news of CECAFA 2009 results. Sadly, and unusually, there are still no visitors from China.  Plenty from Iran, but nothing from China.  Ever since last month, when it was reported that Google access in China had been disrupted, visits from Sudan Watch readers in China have ceased. :(



Photo: KCC’s Sentogo shields the ball away from Prisons’ Misango Muyemba in Friday’s match. (Source: Sunday Vision (Uganda) report - see here below)



Photo: Johnson Bongoole (No.15) of Rwanda champions Atraco attacks during their Cecafa Club Championship match with El Mereikh. Also in action is El Mereikh's Balla Jabir (14), Naserdin Shigail (18) amd Atraco's Godfrey Katerega (No.3). El Mereikh won 6-1. PHOTO /MOHAMMED AMIN (Source:  see report here below from The Nation by Charles Nyende  in Khartoum, Sudan, Saturday, July 4 2009)

Further reading:
Jul 03, 2009, Sudan Watch:   CECAFA 2009 Results from Sudan Radio Service.

Jun 27, 2009, Sudan Watch:  Google access in China temporarily disrupted - outage follows criticism by Chinese watchdog

KCC CRUISE AHEAD

Sunday Vision - ‎14 hours ago‎

BY VISION REPORTER KAMPALA City Council (KCC) edged closer to the quarter-finals of the CECAFAClubs Championships with a commanding 3-1 victory over ...

Wads of cash boost CECAFA

Sunday Vision - James Bakama - ‎14 hours ago‎

All George Nsimbe's side has to do is win the CECAFA Club Championship and a cool sh200m will be on the club's account. The top team in Sudan will earn ...

Brewers prey on Inter Stars

Daily Nation - Charles Nyende - ‎16 hours ago‎

Johnson Bongoole (No.15) of Rwanda champions Atraco attacks during their Cecafa Club Championship match with El Mereikh. Also in action is El Mereikh's ...

CECAFA Cup: Tusker FC, KCC And El-Mereikh Qualify For Quarter-Finals

Goal.com - ‎Jul 3, 2009‎

CECAFA defending champions, Kenya's Tusker FC joined their counterparts Mathare United in the quarter-finals as the race for the title hots up in Sudan. ...

UPDATE: See Sudan Watch Monday, July 06, 2009:
CECAFA 2009 results: Hay El-Arab of Sudan make the quarters

Click on tag label CECAFA (here below) to see latest footballing news reports here at Sudan Watch.

Sudan: CECAFA 2009 Results

From Sudan Radio Service, Friday, 03 July 2009, CECAFA 2009 Results:

(Khartoum) - The CECAFA championships in Sudan entered its second day with four matches, two in Khartoum and two in Port Sudan. In Khartoum’s national stadium, Tanzania’s Prisons drew with Somalia’s Benadir Telecom 2-2 after a tough match. Benadir scored their two goals in the first half and were looking convincing until Prisons got back into game with a goal just before half time. After the break, Prisons scored after a hair-raising battle through the Somalis’ strong defense.

Following this match, TP Mazembe of DR Congo played against Uganda’s KCC but was beaten 3-2 after failing to stand their ground in defense. Referee Alfadil Abu Shanab sent off the Mazembe goalkeeper.

In Port Sudan, Sudan’s Hay El-Arab drew with Kenya’s Tusker FC 1-1. Hay El-Arab scored their equalizing goal towards the end of the match from a penalty. The second match in the coastal town was between Miembeni of Zanzibar and InterStars of Burundi. Miembeni beat the InterStars 2-1.

Thanks C :)

Further reading
Sudan Watch, Wed, 01 July 2009: CECAFA 2009 club football championship kicks off in Khartoum, Sudan

UPDATE: See Sudan Watch Monday, July 06, 2009:
CECAFA 2009 results: Hay El-Arab of Sudan make the quarters




Photo: "Sudan football" by bashkaaa (Source: www.panoramio.com). Note from Sudan Watch Ed: This might be a photo of Sudan football association's building.



Photo: "Khartoum photo by night" (Source: www.skyscrapercity.com)

UPDATE on Sunday 05 July 2009: CECAFA 2009 results: Sudan’s El-Merikkh wins all three matches to quarter finals

Click on tag label CECAFA (here below) to see latest footballing news reports here at Sudan Watch.

CECAFA 2009 club football championship kicks off in Khartoum, Sudan

This tournament will be hosted by Almerrikh, the Champion of Sudan, and it will kick start on 30 June 2009 and last until 12 July 2009, the 26th matches of the tournament will take place in three different venues, Almerrikh stadium at Omdurman, Khartoum stadium at Khartoum and Port Sudan stadium in Eastern Sudan.

12 teams are participating in the tournament from different 10 different countries with Sudan and Kenya participating with two teams each. The teams are Almerrikh SC (Sudan), Hay El-Arab SC (Sudan), TP Mazembe (DR Congo) (Invited), Tusker FC (Kenya), Mathare United (Kenya), KCC FC (Uganda), Kartileh Djibsat (Djibouti), Prisons FC (Tanzania), Miembeni FC (Zanzibar), Benaadir Telecom (Somalia), AS Inter Star (Burundi) & Atraco FC (Rwanda).

Read more from Sudan Online:  CECAFA Club Championship 2009.
Logo source: www.brandsoftheworld.com





Photos (above): Al Merreikh Stadium, also known as the red castle, is a multi-use stadium in Omdurman, City of Khartoum, Sudan. Established in 1962. The stadium is used mostly for football games and is considered the home stadium of both Al-Merreikh and the Sudan national team. Currently, the stadium has a capacity of 42,000 seats.



Photo: Al Hilal Stadium, Omdurman, City of Khartoum, Sudan.  (Note, Khartoum is the capital of Sudan and the seat of government.  The city of Khartoum is composed of three areas:  Khartoum proper, North Khartoum, primarily an industrial area;  and Omdurman, once the capital of the Mahdist government.)



Photo: Port Sudan Stadium, Port Sudan, Eastern Sudan.

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Association's Club Cup (CECAFA Club Cup) is a football club competition. It has been known as the Kagame Inter-Club Cup since 2002 due to sponsorship reasons as Rwandan President Paul Kagame has bankrolled the tournaments. It is played by clubs from East and Central Africa.

From Confederation of African Football:

The Council of East and Central Africa Football Association will stage the 2009 Kagame club in Sudan starting June 30. The annual championship has attracted 12 clubs from the region with TP Mazembe of DRC as guests.

The tournament sponsored by El Merreikh group and President of Rwanda HE Paul Kagame to the tune of US 600,000 promises to be a thrilling affair with El Merreikh club of Sudan promising to be the club to watch in the two week festival.

From Sudan Radio Service, 01 July 2009:

(Khartoum) – Amidst fireworks, cheering and tight security, the CECAFA 2009 club football championship was officially opened on Tuesday night in El-Merikh football stadium.

The first match, between Mathare United of Kenya and Kartileh from Djibouti, began before the ceremony. Mathare United beat Kartileh three nil.

Soon after the match and the colorful ceremony, El-Merrikh played and beat Atraco of Rwanda by six goals to one, giving the hosts a big push and sending the whole stadium into wild jubilation after a match that ended a few minutes before midnight. The chairman of the club, Dr. Omar Mahmoud Khalid, could not hide his joy following the match.

[Dr. Omar Mahmoud Khalid]:“This is a very exciting match, especially towards the end of the first half, when they scored four goals with beauty and style. We are happy with this performance, especially when El-Merikh has been absent for a long time. This affected their performance in the first half - but they picked up later.”

On Wednesday, Tanzania’s Prisons FC will battle it out with Benadir of Somalia while TP Mazembe of DR Congo will face Kampala City Club from Uganda.

El-Merikh now go on to play Kartileh of Djibouti and Mathare United will take on Atraco of Rwanda on Thursday evening in Omdurman.

In Port Sudan, InterStars of Burundi will play Miembieni of Zanzibar and Hay El-Arab will take on the Kenyans, Tusker FC.

From AFP - Sudan to host two CECAFA championships - 25 May 2009 (via footballcupleague.com):

(NAIROBI) - Sudan will host two CECAFA championships in July and August in a bid to solidify their rather shaky peace treaty between the North and the South, a top official said on Monday.

The club championships, originally scheduled for Uganda, will be held in Khartoum and Port Sudan between June 30 and July 12 and the youth under-17 contest in Juba a month later.

It will be the first major sporting event to be staged in the southern part of the country since the signing of the treaty in January 2005 which brought an end to their 20-year old civil war.

“The government of Sudan is committed to the promotion and willing to invest heavily in sports throughout the whole country,” CECAFA general secretary Nicholas Musonye told AFP.

“They have accepted to finance the staging of the two events to the tune of one million dollars (78 million shillings). It is a big boost for the sport.”

“We have, in turn increased the prize money from 60,000 dollars to 100,000 dollars (7.8 million shillings) of which the winners will pocket 50,000 dollars (4 million shillings),” said Musonye.

Sudan is enjoying a footballing reconnaissance with their two top club sides, Al Hilal and Al-Merreikh, reaching the group stages of the African Champions League and the national team in the hunt to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

UPDATE - Friday 03 July 2009:  click here for CECAFA 2009 Results

UPDATE - Sunday 05 July 2009: CECAFA 2009 results: Sudan’s El-Merikkh wins all three matches to quarter finals

Click on tag label CECAFA (here below) to see latest footballing news reports here at Sudan Watch.