Dar es Salaam. The Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa)’s Senior Challenge Cup is scheduled to take place from June 29 to July 14, 2024 in Zanzibar.
That was revealed by Cecafa’s Head of Public Relations and Communication, Andrew Oryada, during an exclusive interview with The Citizen yesterday.
Zanzibar was confirmed as the hosts of Cecafa’s biggest competition during the General Assembly held in Mombasa, Kenya.
“After consultations with our sponsors, Azam TV, we decided that from June 29 to July 14 would be the best timing for the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup,” said Oryada.
He called upon all member associations that will send teams to each contribute $20,000 (Sh52 million) by April 20, this year.
Oryada also made it clear that they are thinking of inviting guest teams from other zones to spice up the competition that will also help national teams in the Zone to prepare for the FIFA 2026 and Chan 2024 qualifiers.
The Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup will return after it was last held four years ago in 2019 with the hosts, Uganda, defeating Eritrea in the final.
According to Oryada, they are expecting to have a thrilling competition.
“We are determined to make the Cecafa Challenge Cup big on its return since 2019 when it was last held in Uganda. We believe the Challenge Cup for the next three years will bring the vibe in the zone ahead of the 2027 Afcon to be co-hosted by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania,” said Oryada.
He explained that the Cecafa tournaments have helped spot talent in the zone that has been tapped at professional level.
“For example, Uganda’s Travis Mutyaba, who played in U-17, U-18, U-20 tournaments and who recently was signed by Zamalek in Egypt, Tanzania’s Kelvin John, who performed in Cecafa tourneys and now plays for KRC Genk in Belgium.
“There are also Ali Sulueman Salih and Robel Teklemichael who played well when Eritrea finished second in the 2019 Challenge Cup, and the two now play professional football in Ethiopia, Aisha Masaka who played well in the Cecafa competitions and has now signed for BK Hacken in Sweden and many others,” he said.
Oryada said Cecafa will continue to organise tournaments as platforms for member associations in the Zone to test, expose and better their teams in different age categories.
Besides the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup, the zone will also stage the five other competitions in the 2024 calendar.
They are Caf Women’s Champions League Zonal qualifiers (Ethiopia) scheduled to take place from August 17 to September 1 and the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) U-20 boys zonal qualifiers to be held in Tanzania from October 5 to 19 as well as Africa Schools Football Championship Zonal qualifiers to be held in Zanzibar from December 4 to 7.
The list also includes Cecafa U-20 Women’s Championship to be held in Ethiopia in November and Afcon U-17 boys zonal qualifiers, which are expected to take place in Uganda from December 14 to 19.
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Tanzania: Samia Hands Over NBC’s 354m/ – Crop Insurance Compensation to Farmers Affected By Hailstorms
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, has handed over a cheque of 354m/- from the National Bank of Commerce (NBC) as compensation to tobacco farmers, who were affected by hailstorms during the previous farming season in various regions across the country.
Handing over the cheque in Dodoma, the compensation is part of the crop insurance service provided by NBC in collaboration with the National Insurance Corporation (NIC).
Furthermore, President Samia has also handed over health insurance coverage to members of the Lindi Mwambao Cooperative Union based in Lindi Region, through the Farmers’ Health Insurance service provided by the bank in partnership with Assurance Insurance Company.
While visiting the bank’s pavilion at the Nanenane Agricultural Exhibition and being received and briefed by the bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Theobald Sabi, she said: “This crop insurance is one of the crucial solutions in ensuring farmers have a reliable income, without fear of challenges such as natural disasters, including hailstorms.
“I call upon all farmers in the country to make the best use of this important opportunity by accessing these kinds of insurance services. I also highly commend NBC and all the stakeholders participating in this programme.”
Elaborating further on the crop insurance service, the Minister of Agriculture, Hussein Bashe, stated that it will help to recover the loss farmers incurred, especially in various calamities beyond their control.
Citing them as floods, fires, and hailstorms, which have significantly affected the well-being of farmers and caused some to be reluctant to invest in the crucial sector, Mr Bashe added: “However, our President, this step by NBC is just the beginning, as this is the second year since they started offering this service, and the results are already visible.
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“As the government, we promise to continue supporting the wider implementation of this service, with the goal of ensuring that this crop insurance service reaches more farmers.”
ALSO READ: NBC participates in TFF 2023/24 awards, promises to enhance competition
On his part, Mr Sabi said that the farmers who benefited from the compensations are from 23 primary cooperative unions in the regions of Shinyanga, Geita, Tabora, Mbeya, Katavi, and Kigoma.
He added: “In addition to these insurance services, as a bank, through this exhibition, we have continued with our programme of providing financial education and various banking opportunities to farmers, alongside offering them various loans, including loans for agricultural equipment, particularly tractors, to eligible farmers.:
At the NBC booth, President Samia also had the opportunity to be briefed on the various services offered by the bank to the farmers namely crop insurance and health insurance services.
There, the President had the chance to speak with some of the beneficiaries of the services, including the Vice-Chairman of the Lindi Mwambao Primary Cooperative Union, Mr. Hassan Mnumbe, whose union has been provided with a health insurance card from the bank.
Source: allafrica.com
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Tanzania: Exim to Raise Fund for Mental Health Facilities Upgrades
EXIM Bank to raise 300m/- over the next three years for financing essential services and infrastructure upgrades in mental health facilities.
The bank’s Head of Marketing and Communications Stanley Kafu unveiled this when introducing Exim Bima Festival 2024 as a platform for bringing together individuals, organisations and various sectors for raising the funds.
“Exim’s initiative aligns with the government’s broader goals to ensure that every citizen has access to quality healthcare, including mental health services,” he said.
The initiative, which is one of the events for celebrating the bank’s 27th anniversary is scheduled for Wednesday this week in Dar es Salaam.
Mr Kafu highlights that this year’s festival is not only about raising awareness of the importance of insurance in the society but also focuses on enhancing access to mental health services and improving the overall well-being of the nation.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health shows a staggering 82 per cent increase in mental health cases over the past decade.
Mental cases have risen from 386,358 in 2012 to 2,102,726 in 2021, making the need for mental health services more urgent than ever.
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Unfortunately, the country’s ability to address this growing challenge is hindered by a shortage of mental health professionals, infrastructure, medical equipment and essential medication.
For example, out of the 28 regions in the country, only five have facilities that provide adequate mental health services.
The most affected group is the youth aged 15 to 39, who represent the nation’s workforce, underscoring the need for intensified efforts to safeguard this generation for Tanzania’s future well-being and development.
Mr Kafu said by improving mental health services, Exim aims to contribute to the creation of a network of communities that can access care quickly and affordably.
Exim Insurance Department Manager Tike Mwakyoma said they are appreciating the support from partners in the insurance industry, who have stood by them since the last festival.
“Let’s continue this unity for the development of all Tanzanians and our nation as a whole,” the manager said.
Source: allafrica.com
