Council for the East and Central Football Associations (Cecafa) has expressed concern over the availability of the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole on January 1.

Fufa Vice-president in charge of finance Jowali Kyeyago, who is also the chairman of the local organizing committee, told Daily Monitor that Cecafa is not sure the stadium will be available.

"We have scheduled a meeting with the stadium (Namboole) management to find out what activities have been earmarked for that day," Kyeyago said.

The regional soccer governing body secretary Nicholas Musonye is in Kampala on a working visit that will see him inspect all stadiums that will be used during the tournament.

Namboole has normally been reserved for New Year prayers and celebrations on January 31. Kyeyago says Cecafa is wary of the inconvenience in preparations and the effect of the festivities on the pitch. Musonye was yesterday impressed by preparations and is predicting a good tournament.

Uganda, the record winners of the Cecafa trophy, will be desperate to win some silverware after the disappointment of failing to reach the decisive group stages of the 2010 African/World Cup qualifiers. Sudan are the defending champions.