The 2013 Cecafa Challenge Cup has received a major blow after the Kenyan government confirmed that they don’t have funds to host the annual tournament.The development was confirmed following an announcement by the Kenyan Sports and Culture cabinet secretary Hassan Wario yesterday according to Kenyan media.Wario categorically said hosting such a big event requires a lot of money which the government does not have at the moment.The bombshell comes at a time when the organisers of the tournament are busy soliciting for sponsors with Football Kenya Federation chairman Sam Nyamweya previously announcing that they will partner with the government to stage a successful event that will run from November 27th to December 12th, the day Kenya will be celebrating 50 years of independence.Wario was quoted saying, “Let us be honest with each other. The government has no money to come on board and sponsor the tournament. It requires huge sums of money to stage such an event. What we have in our budget cant work. he said.He further added that the country stands to gain a lot if the tournament can be staged successfully in the country but said that now the fate of the tournament lies with the sponsors.“There are several other federations and sports which are in need of funds same as Football; Swimming, Volleyball, Hockey name them all. It will be therefore hard to single out football who as a matter of fact submitted their request late,” added Wario.Asked to give an assurance that Kenya will indeed be staging the senior regional tournament, Wario had this to say; “I don’t know. Go ask Nyamweya, he said as he walked away.It remains to be seen whether Kenya will host the tournament five years after hosting it when Communications provider Orange were the sponsors in 2009.
