Kickoff (Cape Town)
31 December 2008
Kenyan officials and regional football ruling body Cecafa traded bitter words only hours before the start of the Senior Challenge Cup in Uganda today.
Kenyan coach Francis Kimanzi complained about organisational hiccups during this year's regional East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup, but officials rubbished the protestations, daring them to quit if they so wished.
Kimanzi especially took issue with the Begembe Stadium, which is host to Group B matches of the regional tournament, terming it unfit to host an event of this magnitude.
"The stadium should not be allowed to host this tournament. It is rough, uneven and I am worried my players will pick up unnecessary injuries," he complained after taking his team to a morning training session on Tuesday.
He also took issue with Cecafa for insisting teams bring their best players, yet providing no motivation for that. "How do you bring a player you want to use in the World Cup qualifiers to such conditions?"
Sudan also complained about the state of the venue of Group B matches. Their goalkeeper Akram Alhadi said the uneven surface was not good for the players as it could lead to injury.
Kimanzi also complained that the team was not given food when they arrived in Jinja on Monday night.
"We woke up very early on Monday. The last meal we had was at lunchtime and we were forced to sleep hungry because we found workers having gone home after we arrived. It is not fair on my players," he complained.
But Cecafa secretary-general Nicholas Musonye dismissed the complaints as petty.
"We inspected the ground and it is in order. We are tired of the small and petty complaints from the Kenyan delegation. I wonder why it is only them who are complaining. They can quit if they want," he said.
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I will like to say like this let our coach Kimanzi not to make an excuse that the prayers didn't eat the previous day before the match that is why they end up with a draw for the match.He was to mix the team even with a one internation prayer