COSAFA Castle Cup Will be Played Over Three Qualifying Rounds
  The Council of Southern Africa Football Association (COSAFA) Castle Cup will be undergoing a facelift next season, with the competition having three rounds of qualifying matches before the eventual winner is decided, according to the COSAFA Website.

The proposed format will be such that one group of eight teams in the COSAFA Castle Cup: Lesotho, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, South Africa, Mozambique, Malawi and Botswana will be divided into two groups of four depending on their ranking.

Eight other groups will play a four nations-style tournament at venues to be determined and the winners of these events join the winners of either group and Angola at a final four nations event. The four teams will then be drawn against each other at a venue to be determined.

The regional soccer controlling body believes that the proposed format will ease the difficulties encountered in player call ups, improve television rights and guarantee benefits for member associations.

The new format is also viewed as more attractive to sponsors and a better developed platform for participating teams.  The Lesotho Football Association (LEFA) executive committee is expected to announce very soon, the results of a meeting reviewing the new changes. 

 There have been very little changes to the COSAFA Castle Cup since it was introduced in 1997.

17 December 2004

  source:   LENA