Bonnie Mugabe
9 June 2008
Kigali — National football league champions APR have been invited to compete in the Tusker Challenge Cup which is set for August in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
APR's invitation to the annual championship was extended by event sponsors East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL). The Marketing Manager of the East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL), Gasto Lyaruu told Tanzania press media last month that the aim of inviting the Rwandese club was to make the championship more competitive, considering that they had increased winners' prizes too.
Nigeria football champions Enyimba is among the top African clubs that will be invited for the tournament whose dates are yet to be confirmed, according to Lyaruu.
Meanwhile, APR club manager Capt. Eric Ntazinda told Times Sport recently that he is not yet sure if the club will take part in the lucrative tournament.
"We are now concentrating on the national league, Amahoro Cup and the Kagame Cup championship.
"We may think about the Tusker Challenge Cup but after those competitions have ended," Ntazinda said.
The East Africa Breweries Limited, the event's main sponsors is expected to meet with the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) executive committee to propose other teams which would be invited for the championship.
Winners of this year's will be awarded Tshs40m (approx. Frw. 20 million) instead of Tshs25m (approx. 12.5 millions) that had earlier been reported.
First and second runners-up will pocket Tshs.20m (approx.10 millions) and Tshs10m (approx. Frw5 millions) respectively. The tournament's top scorer will be awarded Tshs3m (approx. Frw1.5 millions).
Tusker Cup started in 2002 and ever since Simba have been winning it until last year when they pulled out of the championship.
Arch rivals Yanga Africans of Tanzania is the defending champions of the tournament.
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