President Paul Kagame has noted that the Cecafa Kagame Cup tournament will not stop even after he leaves Power saying, “sponsorship will be sustained”.
Kagame said on Friday while hosting the 2012 Cecafa Cup champions Young Africans at Village Urugwiro in Kigali.
The Cecafa Kagame Cup features top regional clubs.
Yanga are in Kigali for a series of international friendlies ahead of next season’s Vodacom Premier League, which kicks off on September 15.
President Kagame added that the idea of sponsoring the tournament was to promote solidarity among the East and Central African countries.
“It is not because Rwanda is richer than other East African nations, but rather a symbol to strengthen the impact of sports and unity of people in the region.”
‘The idea was planned in a way that the tournament and its annual sponsorship will stay longer than me. It is beyond individuals,” Kagame said.
“Even when I am no longer the President of Rwanda, the sponsorship will continue. The impact of the Cecafa Kagame Cup tournament will be preserved,” he insisted.
Yanga, who won the 2012 title for the second year running after beating local rivals Azam in the final three weeks ago at the National Stadium, are in Kigali for a one-week pre-season tour.
Club officials said the main purpose of their trip was to extend gratitude to President Kagame for his continued support to regional football.
“We are here to recognise the support from President Kagame towards developing football which has also acted as a uniting tool in the region,” head of the delegation Yussuf Mwangi said.
In 2002, President Kagame became the first sponsor of the club competition, injecting $60,000 which is distributed among the top three teams in the annual tournament.
Besides the prize money, the President also gives $15,000 every year for organising the tournament, bringing his total sponsorship to $75,000, according to Rwanda’s Sports and Culture minister Protais Mitali.
As a result of that support, Cecafa leaders renamed the competition Cecafa-Kagame Club Cup championship.
The sponsorship remains the competition’s lifeline to date.
Meanwhile, Yanga beat Rayon Sports 2-0 in their first friendly match at Amahoro Stadium on Friday.
Quick first half goals from Ugandan import Hamis Kiiza and Simon Msuva on 1st and 8th minute were enough to hand the Cecafa Kagame Cup champions a deserved win.
Rayon responded with good attempts but all their efforts were well dealt with by goalie Ally Mustafa while Papy Kamanzi wasted precious opportunities in-front of the goal.
Today, Yanga wind up their tour with another friendly against Police FC at Stade Amahoro.
The Citizen
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