Cosafa format set to be changed

Cosafa format set to be changed

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By Sports Reporter

THE Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) says it will discuss a request made by affiliates to consider changing the format of the regional Cosafa Castle Cup with the sponsors South African Breweries Limited (SAB) before their annual meeting in December.

Cosafa’s general secretary Ashford Mamelodi said member associations want the current format to be changed to round robin.

“While we agree with the suggestion, it’s an issue that has to be taken up with the sponsors because there are critical issues that have to be looked into like mileage in terms of sponsorship,” he said.

Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and South Africa have all been pushing for a change in the format arguing that teams do not benefit much from the current situation.

Some suggest that the tournament should be played over a week or two like is the case with the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge Cup whereby teams are divided into two groups and they play on league basis with the top two from each group qualifying for the semifinals.

The regional fiesta has stood the test of time and has just marked 10 years of existence. It is one the biggest regional football competition in the world which enjoys a whopping R1.8 million in prize money alone.

Zimbabwe have won the regional competition thrice in in the past. Only Zambia and Angola equal the record with South Africa managing to lift the trophy once.

Zambia won this year's edition after beating Angola 2-0 in the final played in Lusaka.
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