“Cecafa is progressing” - Leodegar Tenga -

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“Cecafa is progressing” - Leodegar Tenga

09-08-2010

“Cecafa is progressing” - Leodegar Tenga

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Cafonline.com: What do you have to say about the progress of the Council for East and Central African Football Associations (Cecafa) has made?

Leodegar Tenga :”We have made great progress in terms of attracting more sponsors in our regional tournaments and this basically creates more competiveness because cash prizes have also been increased say for the Challenge Cup and the Kagame Club championships. Calling in guest sides like Zambia and Malawi for the senior challenge cup has also helped expose our players in the region better.

Cafonline.com: Why is it that the Cecafa region has struggled to qualify teams for the World Cup and even the Africa Cup of Nations?

Leodegar Tenga :”As much as we have made progress in the region, I think we are not investing enough in terms of planning right from the grassroots like our brothers in North, South and West Africa plans for World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations. Football is big business and we need to invest more in teams, up-grade coaching and also our administration if we ever think of qualifying teams for the big stage like the World Cup and also always get teams make it to the Africa Cup of Nations.

Cafonline.com: Does Cecafa think bringing in guest sides to their tournaments will work magic?

Leodegar Tenga :” In one way or the other yes we gain by bringing these guest sides. I have always been grateful to the Zambian FA President Kalusha Bwalya who always sends his team when we invite them. Within our own federations in the region we are also thinking big and this will in the long run develop football in the region. For example Uganda is starting a professional league this year and we in Tanzania will follow suit next season.

Cafonline.com: How is Cecafa and federations within the region managing with sponsorship during these tough times when some companies have pulled out of supporting football?

Leodegar Tenga :” Although governments in the Cecafa regions are also playing big roles in supporting football, private companies have still chipped in to support the sport. For example in Uganda last week MTN Uganda injected US$700,000 for development of the national team and grass root football. In countries like Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya the leagues have private sponsors and this is all very positive.

Cafonline.com: In the recent U-20 tournament in Eritrea, there was a case of age cheating and Zanzibar was thrown out of the championship because of this. What is your comment on this?

Leodegar Tenga :” Age cheating is a total no because sports is about fair play and you have to play to the rules. It’s unfortunate age cheating is not only in our region but common in West Africa and Asia. In Cecafa we have taken strong measures to handle this although we have to keep educating people on this. We shall continue to be so tough on age cheating and handle such cases with iron arms.

Cafonline.com: Do you think having many professional players is good for a national team and especially in your region to help countries qualify for the big stage competitions?

Leodegar Tenga :” Personally I believe we must give all players chance to go play professional football without hindrance because it opens more doors for football development in the long run. Look at West African countries like Nigeria that have many professionals. It helps them in terms of marketability of more players and also for their national teams since these pros have been exposed enough and do everything in a professional manner with a lot of discipline. Let’s send as many players to the professional stage and you will see how we yield the fruits.

Cafonline.com: What is your comment about how teams in the Cecafa region have performed in the start of the Afcon 2012 and games ahead?

Leodegar Tenga :” I think almost all the teams that played at home won their matches apart from Ethiopia and this is a good trend. For teams to qualify in such tournaments, it’s always good to try and pick all points at home and also travel and bag some few points away. I was happy when I heard that my country Tanzania picked an away draw in Algeria. But all teams in the region don’t have to relax, but have to continue planning seriously for all the games.

Cafonline.com: How successful was the recent U-20 tournament in Eritrea and how is Tanzania preparing to host the Senior Challenge Cup in November-December?

Leodegar Tenga :” The tournament in Eritrea was very competitive and it helped us realize new young talent. The inclusion of Yemen as a guest side also helped us because it exposed our junior players. But at the end of the event the best sides, Eritrea and Uganda, reached the final which the defending champions Uganda won on penalties. As Cecafa we are doing everything possible to see that we have a great Senior Challenge Cup in Tanzania and already the Tanzania FA and the regional body are looking around for sponsors so that will give the championship a big boost.

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