Inaugural “StarTimes” Christmas Cup that was scheduled for Tanzania from 16th to 23rd December 2016 has been cancelled “until next season.”
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“We had plans of hosting StarTimes Christmas Cup but unfortunately we have cancelled it until next season,” an email from Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) to CAF Competitions Coordinator Maryse Namour seen by Soka25east.com reads.
Maryse had earlier requested for organization form from TFF before they could give the tournament the greenlight, “We have known that you are organizing StarTimes International Cup from 16th to 23rd December, please send us the organization request form, in order for us to authorize the said competition.”
The tournament that was to bring together some of the biggest clubs in East Africa and guest teams from DR Congo and Mozambique is believed to have caused disquiet within CECAFA hierarchy as sources indicate it was organized behind their back.
CECAFA’s own club tournament “Kagame Cup” as well as the “Senior Challenge” are highly unlikely to kick-off this year, for reasons sources reveal as “politics of control” and battle over television rights of the two properties currently owned by “Supersport”, and which other players fronted by a section of federation bosses are salivating for.
The cancellation of the StarTimes Christmas Cup is therefore seen as a big victory for CECAFA and Supersport, and by extension its Secretary General Nicholas Musonye whose tenure has lately come under threat.
