The group stages of the World Cup 2014 qualifiers commenced in earnest last week. Still in the month of November 2011, a number of football leagues are either on recess or at the height of the chase for the respective league titles in the Partner States. Regionally, the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) is organising the Senior Challenge Cup which takes place from November 23, 2011 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
In Bujumbura, Burundi, yet another regional tournament organised by the East African Legislative Assembly takes place. The Inter-Parliamentary Soccer Tournament 2011 takes place at the Prince Louis Rwagasore National Stadium on November 22-29, 2011. It features the National Assemblies of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania as well as a team from the EALA/EAC. The first round of the tournament shall take place from Tuesday, November 22, 2011 through to Thursday, November 24, 2011. Friday, November 25, 2011 is a rest day. The Semi-finals are expected to take place on November 26, 2011 with the finals scheduled for November 29, 2011 at the same venue. The teams are expected to draw the lots tomorrow to know which groups they shall feature in.
Defending Champions, Parliament of Tanzania, is expected to put up a strong challenge to retain the title. Last year, the Parliament of Tanzania beat the Parliament of Uganda to clinch the trophy in the finals played at the Sheikh Abeid Karume Stadium in Arusha, Tanzania. The home team, Burundi National Assembly has said on its part that, under no circumstances shall the trophy leave Bujumbura promising a tough battle during the Inter-Parliamentary games. Reports indicate that all teams are in high spirits for the extravaganza that marks part of the EALA 10th Anniversary.
So far, the EALA/EAC team has been undergoing through the training paces in Bujumbura. All other National Assemblies’ Football teams arrive on Sunday in readiness for the week-long tournament.
NOTE TO EDITORS
ABOUT EALA
The East African Legislative Assembly is the legislative organ of the East African Community. Its Membership consists of a total of 52, of whom 45 are elected Members (9 from each Partner State) and seven ex-officio members (the Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs from the Partner States, the Secretary General of the Community and the Counsel to the Community).
The East African Legislative Assembly has legislative functions as well as oversight of all East African Community matters. The enactment of legislation of the Community is effected by means of Bills passed by the Assembly and assented to by the Heads of State, and every Bill that has been duly passed and assented to become an Act of the Community and takes precedent over similar legislations in the Partner States.
EALA in June 2010 launched its Strategic Plan and Website at its 5th Meeting of the third Session held in Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya respectively. The Strategic Plan is expected to go a long way to firmly entrench the EALA as the epitome of the Community’s democracy and unity. The EALA website www.eala.org provides the Assembly with the means to communicate actively with the citizens of East Africa and beyond and enhances public understanding of the legislature’s role and responsibilities.
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For More Information contact:
Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer, East African Legislative Assembly
AICC Building, Ngorongoro Wing, 2nd Floor, P.O. Box 1096 Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255-27-2508240, Fax: +255-27-2503103 Cell: +255-787-870945 +254-733-718036
Email: BOdiko@eachq.org
