Amenga optimistic as age-cheating mars Cecafa U17

Amenga optimistic as age-cheating mars Cecafa U17

The national Under-17 head coach Michael Amenga is optimistic his charges will wrap their Cecafa group stage action with a win over Somalia on Friday.

The Junior Stars began their Cecafa tour in Burundi with a 4-0 pummelling of the hosts before settling for a barren draw with Ethiopia on Tuesday.

“The level of competition is good and so is our preparedness. At this level it’s all about development; to see if the Cecafa region can compete with the other regions in Africa such as the Cosafa,” Amenga said.

The competition has been marred by age-cheating, with organisers taking drastic action against Ethiopia and Zanzibar after they were found guilty of fielding ineligible players.

According to a press release from the Cecafa secretariat, both countries breached the tournament age limit rules where Zanzibar presented nine overage players for their intended opening Group ‘B’ match against Sudan on Sunday.

As a result that match was cancelled and later Ethiopia was busted for fielding three overage players during another Group ‘B’ match against Somalia at the Urukundo Stadium in Ngozi Province on Sunday when they went on to win 3-1.

Zanzibar were expelled from the tournament and fined a total of USD15,000 as an approximate cost of air tickets, accommodation and meals during their stay in Burundi.

The three Ethiopian players were expelled thus the federation imposed a fine of USD 5,000 against them.

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Michael Amenga Cecafa Under-17

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