GABORONE — The 2013 edition of the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup will he hosted by Zambia in July, with the regional football body now in the final stages of organising the event.
Report by Kick Off
The Council of Southern African Football Associations (Cosafa) told KickOff.com that the once popular tournament – which was abandoned in 2009 mainly due to lack of sponsorship – would be held in Lusaka and Ndola.
“The tournament will be held in Lusaka and probably Ndola in July this year. More details will be confirmed,” Sue Destombes, Cosafa chief operating officer, said.
Cosafa has already signed a broadcasting deal with the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation for the tournament.
The tournament, which plays a huge developmental role in the Southern African region, was last played in 2009 with hosts Zimbabwe emerging victorious after beating Zambia 3-1 in the final played at Harare’s Rufaro Stadium.
But the tournament was dealt a huge blow with the withdrawal of South African Breweries, who had bankrolled the event through their Castle brand since 1997. However, there are strong indications that Cosafa are on the brink of bringing on board a new sponsor for the tournament.
“This (sponsorship) is being finalised therefore we are not yet in a position to divulge this information,” Destombes says. Cosafa president Suketu Patel and Football Association of Zambia president Kalusha Bwalya have played a leading role in the revival of the tournament.
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The Cosafa family is made up of Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Namibia, Réunion, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe have won the most Cosafa Cup titles with four triumphs, while South Africa, Angola and Zambia have won three each.
