SC Villa will be among twelve teams vying for victory in the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup 2024, scheduled for July 9-21 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Aside from Red Arrows FC, the Zambia Premier League champions, all participating teams hail from within the region.
Simba Sports Club from Tanzania and Kenya’s AFC Leopards have each claimed the regional title a record six times. Additionally, Young Africans SC, another Tanzanian team, and Kenya’s Tusker FC have each won the Cup five times.
With these four clubs absent from the 2024 tournament, APR FC (Rwanda), Gor Mahia (Kenya), and Uganda’s Sports Club Villa are the frontrunners aiming to capture the Cup for a fourth time.
Gor Mahia last won the trophy in 1985, defeating AFC Leopards 2-0 in the final. They now have a well-balanced team under Brazilian coach Leonardo Martins Neiva, who has introduced new players Samuel Kapen, Chris Pius Akena, and Gideon Bendeka. Neiva, experienced in African football, aims for his team to play attractive ‘shamba’ football.
APR FC, having dominated Rwandan football for years, are eager to prove their prowess under new coach Darko Novic. Following a 1-0 victory over Police in the inaugural match at the renovated Amahoro Stadium on July 1st, Novic expressed his ambition to advance far in the regional tournament. APR FC also reached the semi-finals of the Mapinduzi Cup in Zanzibar.
For SC Villa, who reclaimed the Uganda Premier League title after 20 years, the regional tournament offers a significant opportunity for their Serbian coach Dusan Stojanovic. Stojanovic believes the tournament will provide valuable exposure and experience for his team.
“This tournament comes at a very good time for us as we prepare for the start of the 2024/2025 CAF Champions League starting in August,” says Stojanovic.
Interestingly, APR FC and SC Villa are grouped together in Group C, along with Singida Black Stars (Tanzania) and El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan).
Al Merriekh from Sudan, who have won the trophy three times, along with Tanzania’s Azam FC, will not be participating this year. Notably absent are also Al Merriekh (Sudan) and URA FC (Uganda), both twice winners of the Cup.
Yusf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Manager, expects a highly competitive tournament. “This tournament comes at a good time as the teams use it to prepare for the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. We expect to see attractive and competitive football over the next two weeks,” added Mossi.
The top team from each of the three groups and the best runner-up from any group will qualify for the semi-final stage.
