CECAFA Senior Challenge moved to Kampala again

The 2019 CECAFA Senior Challenge will be held in Kampala, Uganda and not in Jinja as the organizers had communicated two days ago.

The Star Times Stadium Kampala will host the annual event, the latest development returning the action to the capital, to the delight of fans who felt Jinja was far for the oldest regional competition.

From the word go, Kampala was to host the party but unavailability of the major venues in the capital forced the earlier communicated change, that has on Thursday been reversed.

At the same time, fixtures have been amended following the last minute withdrawal of Ethiopia from the Championship.

Initially, Burundi and Eritrea were set to open the fiesta on Saturday, but the revised fixture will see Dibouti and Somalia kickoff the event followed by hosts Uganda and Burundi.

Although the Ethiopian federation has not given any reason for the withdrawal, Citizen Digital understands financial constraints forced the move. Another key member, Rwanda, also opted out on the same grounds.

Defending champions Kenya will lock horns with Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Stars on Sunday in their title defence opener, the second match of the day after Zanzibar and Sudan.

Meanwhile, Harambee Stars will jet out to Kampala on Friday afternoon, according to Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Communications Officer Ken Okaka.

Head coach Francis Kimanzi will trim his provisional squad to 20 members from the 27 who are in camp, his target being retaining the 2017 trophy won during Paul Putt’s tenure at the Kenyatta Stadium, Machakos.