NAIROBI, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The 2019 Council for East and Central Africa Associations (CECAFA) Kagame Cup, to be held in Rwanda in July, will incorporate three teams from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
CECAFA Secretary General Nicholas Musonye said on Tuesday that plans to stage the tournament are complete, with 18 teams competing from July 7 to 21.
"We have received confirmation from Zambia's Zesco United and AS Vita, and Motema Pembe of the DRC who want to participate in the tournament. These are strong teams and their presence will offer our clubs a platform to prepare for next season's Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Champions League and Confederation Cup," said Musonye on Tuesday in Nairobi.
Kenyan champions Gor Mahia will face a litmus test in their quest to recapture the title which comes with a prize purse of 30,000 U.S. dollars, and is sponsored by Rwanda's President Paul Kagame to the tune of 60,000 U.S. dollars.
CECAFA brings together teams from Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Musonye said sponsors including President Kagame and Tanzanian broadcaster Azam TV have already confirmed their support for the staging of the tournament, which offers regional teams a platform to gauge their strength ahead of the start of the CAF calendar.
Tanzania's Azam FC are the defending champions, having beaten compatriots Simba in Dar es Salaam last year.
