Echesa: I felt so ‘sad’ when Kenya failed to host Chan tournament
Rashid Echesa, the nominee for Sports and Heritage Cabinet Secretary, has revisited Kenya’s failure to host the 2018 Africa Nations Championship (Chan) earlier this year, stating that development left him a ‘sad’ man.
Echesa was among several nominees who faced the National Assembly Committee on Appointment for vetting at Parliament on Friday.
He promised to source for funds from the National Treasury to help renovate the sports stadiums in the country.
“Mr Speaker, I was very sad when we failed to host Chan,” said Echesa.
HOSTING RIGHTS
“We did not host Chan because the stadia were not ready. Under my leadership, I will source for funds through the National Treasury to ensure the stadia are complete so that we can host future championships.”
Kenya was stripped off the hosting rights for the biannual football championship last August after the Confederation of African Football (Caf) expressed reservations over the country’s preparedness and political situation at the time.
The development angered football fans in the country, most of whom called for the removal of then Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario.
Echesa, meanwhile, also promised to withdraw his participation from several business firms he owns so as to concentrate on serving the people of Kenya.
He also promised to revive talent academies all over the country to nurture sports.