2011 CECAFA: Eritrea out, Namibia in

By the way, Malawi and Kenya are also in the same group – Group F – FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifiers (Round 2 -CAF). So the 2011 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup matches will be strength testing matches? Not really since the tournament is not on FIFA calendar. Malawi will only feature local players.

It seems there is a difference between local players and foreign based players. Here is what Namibia Coach Bernard Kaanjuka told Namibia Sport before the game against Djibouti on 11 November:

“The preparations have gone well. All the foreigners arrived and we’ll just see what will happen in Djibouti. The foreigners are all experienced players and with the mixture of their experience and the youth I think we can make it. I was also surprised by the fitness level of these boys, they are very fit, especially the foreign players so I’m happy about that,” he said.

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Kenya senior vice chairman Sammy Sholei told the media in Kenya that the only threat in the group is Sudan who are technically superior. Sudan is the only CECAFA team that will be playing in the 2012 African Cup of Nation.

Sholei said The Flames (Malawi National Team) are only physical and can be contained by Harambee Stars (Kenya National team) with Ethiopia not having the capacity of containing pressure throughout 90 minutes.

“From this group am sure Kenya will qualify for the quarter finals together with Sudan. Sudan is a good side but am sure we have quality to manage them,” he said

Malawi, Kenya and Ethiopia were also in the same group (Group C) during the 2010 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup. Uganda (Top of the Group), Malawi (2nd placed) and Ethiopia (3rd placed) made it to the quarter-finals. Uganda and Ethiopia made it to the semi-finals where they lost to hosts Tanzania and guest team Cote d’ Ivoire, respectively. The hosts Tanzania beat guest team Cote d’ Ivoire in the finals.

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Namibia should have taken place of Eritrea in Group C. I think they put Namibia in Group A so Tanzania should make it to the 1/4 finals.

what a coincidence again namibia will face djibouti woow its sounds interesting know but anyhow i wish both the best of luck with good game

COSAFA needs to find sponsorship or disband.CECAFA tourney is there every year.

George, I think they put Namibia in Group A because they didn’t want the Guest Teams (Malawi and Namibia) to be in one Group. During the 2010 CECAFA Senior Challenge all three guest teams (Malawi, Zambia and Cote d’Ivoire) were in different groups.

Moustapha, yes Namibia and Djibouti will meet again but Namibia will feature young and inexperienced players.

Letsego, after Angola failed to host the tournament last year, COSAFA President Suketu Patel said this: “We are confident that the competition to be held next year will be another highly-successful event, and one that showcases the enormous talent of the region.” I think we need to find out what’s going on.

Should Malawi abandon COSAFA and rejoin CECAFA? I think we discussed that here. Duane and tk where are you at?

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Malawi 23-man Squad for the 2011 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup:

Goalkeepers: Charles Swini, MacDonald Harawa, Vincent Gona

Defenders: Bashir Maunde, Emmanuel Zoya, Foster Namwera, James Sangala, John Lanjesi, Ndaziona Chilemba, Pililani Makupe, Steve Chagoma

Midfielders: Chimango Kaira, Frank Banda, Henry Kabichi, John Banda, Joseph Kamwendo, Malumbo Gondwe, Nafe Msasa, Ndaziona Chatsalira

Strikers: Gastin Simukonda, Ishamael Thindwa, Kumbukani Mwambeni, Loti Chawinga

It seems only Defender James Sanngala and Midfielders Frank Banda and Joseph Kamwendo were part of the Malawi squad for the Chad 2:2 Malawi match.

I think less than 6 players from this squad will be part of the Malawi Squad for the Chad match (AFCON 2013 Qualifiers).

By the way, why do we have the U-17, U-20 and the U-23 Teams? I thought the aim is to bring through youngsters that can one day play for the senior national team. The last five years, how many players from the U-17, U-20 and the U-23 made it to the Senior Team?

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This is the time for Shakira to show that he deserves to play in each and every game.

Fred, Joseph “Shakira” Kamwendo? I still don’t know why he didn’t play against Chad. When you have a tall player like Russell Mwafulirwa, I think you need a player who can provide good crosses. Kamwendo might be past his prime but I think he is better than the inexperienced replacements. If a player is good enough to be on the bench then he is good enough to play.

By the way, Joseph Kamwendo has been named Captain and James Sangala Vice-Captain. According to Nation Sports, Kinnah justified the inclusion of Kamwendo and Sangala saying the team needs experienced players to lead it.

“Joseph has been included because the team needs a natural leader and he will be assisted by Sangala as he is also in the country on leave,” Kinnah said. (Comment by sscouser: If Kamwendo is a natural leader…)

He also justified the exclusion of other returnees; goalkeeper Swadick Sanudi, Defender Allan Kamanga and Winger Fischer Kondowe.

“We need to give a chance to up-and-coming players in this particular tournament. It does not mean that they have been phased out completely,” he said.

The game against Chad (AFCON 2013 Qualifiers) is only 2 months away. Team cohesion, team cohesion, team cohesion.

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By the way, soon after Eritrea pulled out, the organisers of CECAFA sent the Warriors (Zimbabwe National Team) an invite to participate and while ZIFA were still deliberating (because their league season ends on 26 November), another invite went out to Namibia, who responded positively without blinking an eye. In January, the Warriors will play against Botswana (home and away) before the Zebras leave for AFCON Gabon/Equatorial Guinea 2012 to be initiated.

Three matches will be played on 28 November because the match between Malawi and Kenya was supposed to be played on 26 November. It was shifted to 28 November because the league season in Kenya will end on 26 November.

“We received a letter from CECAFA that requires the team to arrive on 23rd November, but with the league ending on the 26th November we are trying to harmonise with both CECAFA and KPL to see if we can come to a compromise.” – FKF Acting Chief Executive Lordvick Aduda

Compromise or “single standard”?

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23 November FIFA/Coca-Cola Ranking (2011 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup Participants):

1. Malawi (87)
2. Uganda (91)
3. Sudan (112)
4. Rwanda (114)
5. Namibia (121)
6. Kenya (133)
7. Tanzania (136)
8. Ethiopia (138)
9. Burundi (145)
10. Somalia (187)
11. Djibouti (200)
12. Zanzibar (Not Ranked)

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Anything known about the ko-times of all group matches?