Road to Brazil: Can an EA team make it to the World Cup
Olivier Karekezi, the APR international forward in action for Rwanda against Kilimanjaro Stars of Tanzania during the 2011 Cecafa Senior Challenge in Dar es Salaam. Pictures: Mohammed Amin
Africa’s road to Brazil starts in the busy month of June with Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Sudan and Rwanda flying the East African flag. Council for East and Central Africa Football Association (Cecafa) secretary general Nicholas Musonye believes that this is the region’s best chance to have a team in the World Cup.
But based on the calibre of opponents the region’s teams will face, it will not be an easy task for them to make it to Brazil. They are all grouped with teams that have been to the World Cup before. Kenya has been grouped with Nigeria — who have been to the World Cup three times — Malawi and Namibia. Uganda will play against Senegal, who reached the quarter finals in 2002 in Korea and Japan. Rwanda face Algeria, Mali and Benin while Sudan fall in the same group as Ghana, Zambia and Lesotho. Tanzania are grouped with Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco and Gambia.
“Its not going to be easy but I do believe that with the right preparation we can have a team in the World Cup,” says Musonye. Kenya got a boost when team captain Dennis Oliech reversed his earlier decision to quit international football. He will be leading Harambee Stars as they play the return leg of the 2013 Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Togo.
Kenya starts the World Cup campaign against Malawi before travelling to Namibia. Uganda start away to Angola, Rwanda travel to Algeria, while Sudan take on Ghana and Tanzania play Cote d’Ivoire.
“It’s a crazy June but we just need to ensure that we are at our best both home and away,” said Harambee Stars coach Francis Kimanzi.
In Tanzania, there is renewed hope that the Taifa Stars will improve on their poor showings in Africa after receiving $10 million sponsorship from Tanzania Breweries to be spread over five years.
Hopes are also high that the fortunes of the country’s national team can be transformed by new coach Kim Poulsen.
The federation says the money will be spent on “securing friendly games against the best sides in and outside Africa and for scouting for new talent.”
It will also go towards improving the terms for the international players, with extra payments, improved accommodation, better transport and a new kit.
“For football to develop, you need good investment, and now we have that investment,” said Tanzania Football Federation president Leodegar Tenga.
“This sponsorship will help raise our football standards,” said Tenga.
The team is preparing for their 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Ivory Coast and Gambia, plus the return leg of a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations preliminary tie against Mozambique, which is delicately poised at 1-1.
In Uganda, the Cranes have not had the best of preparations ahead of the qualifiers.
Uganda’s Scottish coach Bobby Williamson has had to do without senior players who quit last year.
Skipper Ibrahim Sekagya, David Obua and defender Nestory Kizito parted ways with the Cranes, which weakened the team.
The team has failed to win a single match this year after losing to Egypt in a friendly played in Sudan 2-1 and falling 3-1 away to Congo Brazzaville in the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
After the Angola game, the Cranes will face Senegal on June 9 in a World Cup qualifier before hosting Congo Brazzaville on June 26 in a game they must win in order to make it to the next round of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
