Cosafa Cup likely to be shelved

The Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup looks likely to be shelved this year as a promise to host the event has allegedly been reneged upon.

The Mpumalanga provincial government in South Africa was to have hosted the annual Southern African championship for national teams.

Mpumalanga staged the 14-team event in July and August last year at the start of a three-year deal with Cosafa.

But following presidential elections won in April by Jacob Zuma, there has been a change in the Mpumulanga province's leadership.

Cosafa president Suketu Patel says the event, which has been part of the African calendar since 1997, is now in jeopardy.

"We had a written commitment from the provincial government in September last year that they would put on the tournament in 2009 and 2010," Patel said in a statement.

"That has put the tournament in jeopardy for this year"

"This was reaffirmed telephonically by a representative of the province in April, though she has since left office.

"But despite follow-up communication with the province we have received no further commitment from them, and that has put the tournament in jeopardy for this year.

"The situation has meant we have essentially lost eight months in searching for a new host, however, we are still hopeful of finding an alternative for 2009."

The tournament first started in 1997 with a lucrative sponsorship from a South African brewery and live television coverage across Africa.

But they later downscaled the event into mini tournaments and then withdrew their sponsorship in 2007.

Last year's event was played at three venues in Mpumalanga province, who picked up all the costs.

But hosts South Africa entered a team of second division footballers and Angola sent their under-20 side, further devaluing the marketability of the tournament.

South Africa won last year's event with their President's XI beating Mozambique in the final.

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