The East and Central African Handball Clubs Championship that was to be held in Kampala, Uganda from December 2-7 this year has now been shifted to Tanzania.
The venue is changed for the second time as it was earlier scheduled for Nairobi, Kenya before it was transferred to Uganda.
The Tanzania Amateur Handball Association (TAHA) Secretary General, Nicholas Mihayo, told the ‘Daily News’ in the city that Uganda have requested Tanzania to shoulder the responsibility of hosting this year’s event.
“We have received a request from Uganda to stage the event in Tanzania, we agreed to do so in order to rescue the tournament and we’ve already confirmed to the organizers, the East and Central African Handball Federation (ECAHF),” he said.
Mihayo said that Tanzania has agreed to host the event which will now be held in Soweto, Arusha from December 17-21. He added that the reasons behind the changes are, among others, the security of the Ugandan capital city.
“They also told us that they have many responsibilities this time around that prevent them to host the event in its perfection,” Mihayo said.
“We have already started preparations and we have contacted both the government and Arusha officials to ensure the tournament is a success,” he added.
Tanzania as hosts are expected to feature three teams — JKT, Ngome and Magereza — in the anxiously awaited championship. Each will compete in the men and women’s categories.
Mihayo said the three teams started preparations since September aimed at regaining the East and Central Handball Club Championship honours.
Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia and hosts Tanzania are expected to participate in the tournament.
By MBONILE BURTON, Tanzania Daily News
