Kenyan and Tanzanian soccer fans will have an opportunity to catch a glimpse of the glittering UEFA Champions League Trophy this year when the trophy makes its maiden tour in the two East African countries. The trophy will be in Tanzania between March 24 to 27 this year before proceeding to Kenya.
Speaking to reporters in Dar es Salaam, the Director of Agape Association [firm handling the tour details] ,Stephen Mshana said that the UEFA Champions League Trophy will visit parts of the country including Mount Kilimanjaro.
"For the first time, football fans in the country will see the famous trophy of the UEFA Champions League. The trophy will tour selected countries in Africa (Tanzania and Kenya), Asia and America," he told Tanzania Daily News.
The tour is aimed at enabling the fans across the world share, experience and see the UEFA Champions League trophy.
European football boasts huge fans base in Tanzania and Kenya, with leading European clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Barcelona having a large fan base in both countries.
UEFA Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in European football. The final of the competition is the one of the most watched annual sporting event worldwide, drawing over 178 million in television viewership.
Prior to 1992, the tournament was officially called the "European Champion Clubs' Cup", but was usually referred to simply as the "European Cup". The competition was initially a straight knockout competition open only to the champion club of each country.
The current UEFA Champions League trophy holders are Spanish giants FC Barcelona who beat Manchester United 3-1 in the 2011 final at the Wembley Stadium in May last year.
Barcelona's arch-rivals Real Madrid are the most successful club in the competition's history, having won the tournament nine times; including the first five seasons it was contested.
Source Tanzania Daily News.
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