Government under scrutiny as Kenya faces loss of CHAN tournament hosting rights
Kenya is on the verge of losing the hosting rights for the 2018 African Nations Championship (Chan), Nairobi News has established.
This follows a dismal report filed by Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials, who are in the country on a week-long tour to run the rule on country’s preparedness.
The CAF officials, led by second vice-President Constant Omari Selemani are dismayed by the slow progress in renovating four of the stadiums earmarked to host the games during the three month long continental football showpiece in January 2018.
“Put simply, there is no progress achieved in developing infrastructure between now and the last time CAF officials were here (last March). As a matter of fact, Eldoret’s Kipchoge Keino Stadium will not be ready and has been struck off the hosting venues roster. There also are serious concerns on Machakos and Nyayo Stadium,” a source familiar with the on-goings, explained to Nairobi News.
Thus, CAF could make the announcement of taking away this tournament’s hosting rights as soon as next week, but that’s if the government fails to assure financial guarantees by close of business Saturday.
PREPAREDNESS
Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario, alongside Omari and FKF president Nick Mwendwa, are set to update the media on the level of the country’s preparedness on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Harambee Stars will be banned from competing at the 2018 CHAN tournament in the event CAF snatch the hosting rights from Kenya, with Morocco considered the best available alternative.
Stars who have never featured in the four editions of this tourney staged in Ivory Coast, Sudan, South Africa and Rwanda, were set to qualify automatically as hosts.
Incidentally, this development is reminiscent of a similar one some 21 years ago, when CAF withdraw Kenya’s hosting rights for the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations, and handed the same to South Africa.
This development further puts to scrutiny the government’s commitment towards sports in the country, considering the several unfulfilled promises meted out by the Jubilee Government.