By FELIX MALUNGA –
THE 2015 Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) Senior Challenge Cup gets underway in South Africa tomorrow with the eventual winner assured of R500,000 (about K300,000).
Zambia is the defending champion for the prestigious regional competition after winning the 2013 edition in Ndola.
Tournament organisers said the 2015 prize money was a significant ‘carrot’ dangled in front of 14 competing nations.
The regional championship will be played in South Africa’s North-West Province from May 17-30 and apart from the best of Southern Africa, will also feature guest nations in 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) runners-up, Ghana and Tanzania.
COSAFA announced the prize-money this week, which will also see the runners-up claim R250 000 (about K150,000) and the team that will claim the bronze medal will reap R125 000 (about K75,000).
Losing semi-finalists will take home R100,000 (K60,000) while the winner of the Plate event will receive R75,000 (K45,000).
There will also be three individual awards for outstanding players at the tournament.
The Most Valuable Player, Golden Boot winner for the top scorer and Goalkeeper of the tournament will each receive R20,000 (K12,000).
Chipolopolo midfielder Mukuka Mulenga was the Most Valuable Player in the 2013 edition when Zambia hosted the COSAFA Cup.
COSAFA has staked a total R1.1-million (about K660,000) for cash prizes for teams and players alike.
The 2015 COSAFA Cup will be played at two venues in South Africa’s North West Province – Olympia Park in Rustenburg and the Moruleng Stadium.
Eight teams will enter the first round pool stage, split into two groups each containing four sides. The teams will compete on a round robin bases with the top teams in each pool advancing to the quarter-finals.
Group A has Zimbabwe, Namibia, Seychelles and Mauritius while Group B has Tanzania, Swaziland, Lesotho and Madagascar.
The top six teams according to the FIFA World Rankings will join the fray at the quarterfinal stage.