Cecafa on Wednesday confirmed Kenya as hosts, allaying earlier fears that the football fete would be moved because of lack of sponsorship. Musonye said the council was talking with the government and other potential sponsors to raise the Sh50 million needed for the event. Deputy Commissioner for Sports Stephen Karinga assured the organisers of the government’s support and desire to see a well-organised tournament.

Musonye said hosting the Senior Challenge Cup was a good opportunity for Kenya to market itself ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. “Kenya is strategically placed for the 2010 World Cup and teams can use Kenya as a training base.

The country can showcase its facilities and organisational abilities,” he said. Cecafa unveiled the tournament mascot Tembo, a friendly looking elephant in a black- and yellow-stripped jersey and orange shorts, standing with his left foot on a football. Tembo will spread the message “Uniting for Peace”, the tournament’s theme.

 Kenya last hosted the regional showpiece in 1994 that was won by Tanzania, who beat Uganda 4-3 in post-match penalties after the teams had tied 2-2 in regulation time.

SuperSport International’s head of Africa, Gary Rathbone, hinted at the possibility of the pay television channel broadcasting the matches live. “We see ourselves screening some of the matches, certainly in the knockout stages,” Rathbone said.

The last two editions were broadcast live by another pay satellite station, GTV (Gateway Television), which folded early this year.

With GTV’s demise also went a lucrative $6 million (Sh456m), four-year sponsorship deal it signed with Cecafa in 2007. Source: Daily Nation