By Fred Maingi in Nairobi
Harambee Stars newly appointed head coach Henri Mitchel is optimistic
Kenya will qualify for the third edition of the African Nations
Championship (CHAN) to be hosted by South Africa in 2014.
Speaking in Naivasha after watching a Tusker Premier League(TPL) tie
pitting Karuturi Sports against Muhoroni Youth, Mitchel said within
the short period he has been in Kenya, he has spotted alot of talent
that can steer Harambee Stars to another greater level.
The draw for the preliminary, first round and second round qualifiers
was conducted and released on Thursday in Cairo, Egypt.
The draw was carried out using a seeding system that considered the
performances from the last two editions.
After missing out on the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, Kenya will seek
to redeem herself in this tournament reserved for players playing in
local league.
Kenya is classified in the Central-East Zone that had Rwanda, Burundi,
Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Eritrea.
In the preliminary round, Kenya will square off against Burundi in a
two-legged encounter. The first match will be played between November
30 and December 2 while the second leg in Nairobi is set for a date
December 14 and 16.
The winner between Kenya and Burundi will progress to the first Round
where they will face Sudan in another two-legged knockout. The first
Round matches are set between June 21 and 23, 2013 and the second leg
two weeks later.
Rwanda’s Amavubi Stars will start their campaign in the first round
facing the winner between Eritrea and Ethiopia next year. Uganda and
Tanzania will battle for the other slot to complete the first round
fixtures of the Central-East Zone.
Rwanda head coach Sredojovic ‘Micho’ Milutin was quoted by New
Times of Rwanda saying he was confident his charges will deliver . “I
have great experience with the Ethiopia and Eritrea teams. I don’t
think any of them will stop our ambition of qualifying for a CHAN
finals.”
“When the time comes, we will find the right formula to qualify. It
will be a clash between teams that know each other quite well but am
confident about our chances to qualify,” added the Serbian coach.
The finals tournament will feature two teams from North Zone, two from
West A Zone, three from West B Zone, three from Central Zone and three
from Central East and three from South Zone (including hosts South
Africa).
Democratic Republic of Congo won the inaugural CHAN tournament held in
Cote d’ Ivoire in 2009 while Tunisia won the 2011 edition held in
Sudan.
Central -East Zone
Preliminary Round
First leg
Nov. 30-Dec. 1, 2
Burundi vs Kenya
Kenya vs Burundi
Return leg
Dec. 14, 15, 16
Eritrea vs Ethiopia
Ethiopia vs Eritrea
First Round
Jun. 21, 22, 23
Winner (Bur/Ken) vs Sudan
Winner (Erit/Eth) vs Rwanda
Uganda vs Tanzania
Kenya will qualify for the third edition of the African Nations
Championship (CHAN) to be hosted by South Africa in 2014.
Speaking in Naivasha after watching a Tusker Premier League(TPL) tie
pitting Karuturi Sports against Muhoroni Youth, Mitchel said within
the short period he has been in Kenya, he has spotted alot of talent
that can steer Harambee Stars to another greater level.
The draw for the preliminary, first round and second round qualifiers
was conducted and released on Thursday in Cairo, Egypt.
The draw was carried out using a seeding system that considered the
performances from the last two editions.
After missing out on the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, Kenya will seek
to redeem herself in this tournament reserved for players playing in
local league.
Kenya is classified in the Central-East Zone that had Rwanda, Burundi,
Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Eritrea.
In the preliminary round, Kenya will square off against Burundi in a
two-legged encounter. The first match will be played between November
30 and December 2 while the second leg in Nairobi is set for a date
December 14 and 16.
The winner between Kenya and Burundi will progress to the first Round
where they will face Sudan in another two-legged knockout. The first
Round matches are set between June 21 and 23, 2013 and the second leg
two weeks later.
Rwanda’s Amavubi Stars will start their campaign in the first round
facing the winner between Eritrea and Ethiopia next year. Uganda and
Tanzania will battle for the other slot to complete the first round
fixtures of the Central-East Zone.
Rwanda head coach Sredojovic ‘Micho’ Milutin was quoted by New
Times of Rwanda saying he was confident his charges will deliver . “I
have great experience with the Ethiopia and Eritrea teams. I don’t
think any of them will stop our ambition of qualifying for a CHAN
finals.”
“When the time comes, we will find the right formula to qualify. It
will be a clash between teams that know each other quite well but am
confident about our chances to qualify,” added the Serbian coach.
The finals tournament will feature two teams from North Zone, two from
West A Zone, three from West B Zone, three from Central Zone and three
from Central East and three from South Zone (including hosts South
Africa).
Democratic Republic of Congo won the inaugural CHAN tournament held in
Cote d’ Ivoire in 2009 while Tunisia won the 2011 edition held in
Sudan.
Central -East Zone
Preliminary Round
First leg
Nov. 30-Dec. 1, 2
Burundi vs Kenya
Kenya vs Burundi
Return leg
Dec. 14, 15, 16
Eritrea vs Ethiopia
Ethiopia vs Eritrea
First Round
Jun. 21, 22, 23
Winner (Bur/Ken) vs Sudan
Winner (Erit/Eth) vs Rwanda
Uganda vs Tanzania
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