Yanga SC of Tanzania have pulled out of this year’s CECAFA Kagame Cup that was scheduled to kick-off in the country from 28th June to 13th July citing congested fixtures.
“It’s true; we have written to the Tanzania Football Federation informing them that we will not participate in the CECAFA Kageme Cup for various reasons,” Dismas Ten, Yanga’s media officer said.
The Dar Es Salaam heavyweights, who are also the record Kagame Cup winners with five titles, were Monday pooled in Group C of the tournament alongside arch rivals Simba SC, St. George of Ethiopia and Somalia’s Dakadaha.
A clash between them and the bitter rivals was planned for 8th July at National Stadium, Dar and was expected to light up the competition and also earn the organizers the much needed revenue from ticket sales.
But that will not happen as Ten explained that Yanga have had a long season troubled with injuries as they participated in many competitions including the domestic league and recently SportPesa Super Cup in Kenya and so they have decided to rest their players.
“As we speak our players have been released to go rest up-to 25th June when they will report back to start preparations for international assignments,” Ten added.
Yanga will travel to Kenya to play Gor Mahia in the CAF Confederation Cup Group D match on 18th July before hosting the Kenyan champions ten days later in the re-match in Dar Es Salaam.
Meanwhile, Gor who will be playing in the final of the SportPesa Super Cup on Sunday at Afraha Stadium, Nakuru against Simba SC, have confirmed Kagame Cup participation and the Kenyan Premier League management have rescheduled their league fixtures to allow them participate.
