"For many years Secretary General Nicholas Musonye
told the CECAFA media that the regional football body had always in the past
been active in peace building through football and now the time for taking the
peace encouraging tournament to Darfur and Gordofan has arrived.
"For many years, CECAFA has always advocated
for peace and harmony in the region. We have done it before elsewhere and we
shall continue to do so. For us to bring CECAFA to Darfur and South Gordofan,
demonstrates our continues desire to spread the message of peace through the
beautiful game” Mr. Nicholas Musonye said in an interview with the CECAFA
media.
The CECAFA media asked Mr. Nicholas
Musonye what he thinks that the holding of such tournament in the troubled of
Darfur and Gordofan will bring about he replied.
"We believe this will change the perception
people think of Sudan in general and Darfur and Gordofan in general. For us, we
believe football is a good platform to tell the world what is exactly is on the
ground in Sudan. I was surprised with the enthusiasm people demonstrated when I
visited the two states and I believe they will be more excited than ever before
when teams start arriving for the big competition” Secretary General Nicholas
Musonye explained.
The secretary General noted that
Somalia an active nation in the CECAFA family is on the table to for hosting a
CECAFA competition in the near future, as the regional body is committed to
play a key role in introducing peace into Somalia through football and he hoped
that will happen sometime in the near future.
"Yes, as you know, Somalia is deep in my heart and I am already thinking
of how to bring a CECAFA Competition in Somalia. I want to discuss this with
the Somali FA and see how we can engage the youth of Somalia and bring them
together through the power of football. We shall very soon be coming to Somalia”
Mr Nicholas Musone replied when the CECAFA media asked him if his football body
was intending to take the regional competition to the war-devastated Somalia.
Musonye said that he visited
Darfur and Gordofan regions and there was a reliable peace that encouraged
CECAFA to take the competition there, but what they want was to encourage the
continuation of peace in those areas through the beautiful game.
"There is no war in Darfur and Gordofan right now. I was there for four
days and travelled the whole territory. People were happy to meet me and were
asking me why I have taken long to visit their territory. Even before Kagame
Cup, they are asking me when I will consider another event there” he noted
adding that the peace messages of CECAFA will travel around the continent not
only in the CECAFA region.
"We had been to more dangerous places
for football events before. But this one is equally challenging because people
are asking us how we can take a big event like Kagame Cup to Darfur and
Gordofan. But we have said before that our President Paul Kagame is a keen
leader who wants to see peace in Africa. And that is why we are honouring him
to take football to the people of South Gordofan and Darfur” noted Nicholas
Musone during an interview with CECAFA media.
The Kagame cup is slated to run
for two weeks starting June 18th to July 2nd. And CECAFA is inviting many top
football leaders to be part of the celebrations of Kagame cup in a bid to turn
the attention of the world to the strength of football and its big role in the
promotion of peace though football competitions.
Pohotos: By Gishinga Njoroge
Somali Football Federation Media Department
Email:somalifootballmedia@gmail.com