A total of 12 teams will tussle it out in the regional CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup 2024, slated to take place from Tuesday 9 to Sunday 21 July in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.Apart from guest side Red Arrows FC, the Zambia Super League champions, all the other teams are from within the zone.Tanzania Premier League side Simba Sports Club and AFC Leopards from Kenya have won the regional title a record six times apiece. Young Africans SC (Yanga), the Tanzania Premier League giants, and Kenya’s Tusker FC have also lifted the trophy five times each.But in the absence of the four clubs, Football Kenya Federation Premier League champions (FKFPL) Gor Mahia, APR FC (Rwanda), and Uganda’s Sports Club Villa will be the three teams eager to win the regional cup for the fourth time.##NAJAVA_MECA_8201378##Although Gor last lifted the trophy in 1985 when they defeated arch-rivals the AFC Leopards 2-0 in the final, they now have a well-balanced team that can go all the way.The team recently signed a Brazilian coach, Leonardo Martins Neiva, and new players Samuel Kapen, Chris Pius Akena, and Gideon Bendeka.The new coach, who has lots of coaching experience in Africa, made it clear that he wants his team to play attractive samba football.APR FC, who have dominated Rwandan football for several years, will be more than hungry to prove that they have what it takes under new coach Darko Novic.After his team defeated Police from Rwanda 1-0 in the official opening match of the newly renovated Amahoro Stadium on July 1st, Novic made it clear that his target is to reach far in the regional tournament.Football Kenya Federation tightens stance on National Super League Club LicensingThey also reached the semi-final stage of the Mapinduzi Cup in Zanzibar.For SC Villa, who recaptured the Uganda Premier League title after 20 years, playing at the regional tournament presents a very good chance for their Serbian coach, Dusan Stojanovic.The Jogoos coach has made it clear that playing at the tournament will give his team exposure and experience.“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 and SC Villa are all pooled in Group C together with Singida Black Stars (Tanzania) and El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan).Al Merriekh from Sudan, who have lifted the trophy three times, together with Azam FC (Tanzania), will miss out; Al Merriekh (Sudan) and URA FC (Uganda) have also won the Cup twice.Yusf Mossi, the CECAFA Competitions Manager, has said they expect a very 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.Kenya to host Zimbabwe in first 2025 AFCON qualifierThe top team in each of the three groups and the best runners-up from any of the groups will automatically qualify for the semi-final stage.Top winners of the CECAFA Dar Port Kagame Cup6-time winnersSimba SC (Tanzania): 1974, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 2002AFC Leopards (Kenya): 1967, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, and 19975-time winnersYoung Africans SC (Tanzania): 1975, 1993, 1999, 2011, 2012Tusker FC (Kenya): 1988, 1989, 2000, 2001, 2008Three-time winnersAPR FC (Rwanda): 2004, 2027, 2010Al Merriekh (Sudan): 1986, 1994, 2014SC Villa (Uganda): 1987, 2003, 2005Gor Mahia (Kenya): 1980, 1981, 1985Groups A: Coast Union FC (Tanzania), Al Wadi FC (Sudan), JKU SC (Zanzibar), Dekedaha FC (Somalia)Group B: Al Hilal (Sudan), Gor Mahia FC (Kenya), Red Arrows FC (Zambia), Djibouti Telecom (Djibouti)Group C: SC Villa (Uganda), APR FC (Rwanda), Singida Black Stars (Tanzania), El Merriekh Bentiu (South Sudan)
