ZIMBABWEAN side, Dynamos have turned down an invitation to play in this year’s Cecafa /Kagame Cup as it coincides with their Caf Confederation Cup game against Inter-club of Angola.Dynamos play the Angolan side on the weekend of 14-16 July-the same weekend that the regional club championship sponsored by President Paul Kagame begins in Tanzania.In addition, the Harare side already have two outstanding national league matches against Hwange and Highlanders in addition to the Banc ABC Super Eight which starts on July 21.The club’s secretary general, Ray Kazembe told local press that although they had yet to receive an official invitation they would not be able to travel to Tanzania because the competition clashed with several of their local and Caf games.“We have not received an official invite. Besides, there are too many commitments coming up next month, both locally and in Africa, so want can’t travel,” Cecafa secretary general Nicholas Musonye had said they were expecting DRC’s Vita Club, South Africa’s trio of Bloemfontein Celtics, Platinum FC and Silver Stars Fc and Dynamos.Earlier reports had suggested South African giants Orlando Pirates to feature in the two-week event.According to Musonye, Cecafa had also invited TP Mazembe, but the former African champions also have a packed schedule of local and Caf Champions league fixtures. “We are looking forward to having three teams from non-member states. Chances for outside teams to feature are great, but we are still struggling to get a team from DR Congo,” Musonye said.“Cecafa’s intention of inviting these big teams is to expose our regional sides to challenges from other soccer blocs, so we are really anticipating a good tournament.”Musonye confirmed that all the Cecafa Kagame Cup tournament matches will be staged at the 60,000 seat National Stadium and the 7,000 capacity Azam Stadium.APR (Rwanda), Young Africans, Simba, Azam (Tanzania), Tusker (Kenya), Wau Salam (South Sudan), Atletico (Burundi), Mafunzo (Zanzibar) URA (Uganda), Elman (Somalia), Ports (Djibouti), Red Sea (Eritrea) and Coffee (Ethiopia) are all expected to feature in the draw slated for Friday. Cecafa will stage the 2012 Kagame Club cup Competition in Tanzania from July 14th-28.Cecafa president Chairman Leodegar Tenga and Musonye thanked the Sponsors of the event and also Cecafa Patron, President Paul Kagame for their efforts to improve club football in the region. President Kagame has been the sponsor of Cecafa club championship since 1999.Musonye urged other sponsors and partners to come on board and make the 2012 competition a success.Supersport has already partnered with CECAFA to show the matches Live.
