Football Kenya Federation is adamant they did everything “humanly” possible to ensure that Kenya successfully staged the CHAN 2018 whose hosting rights were taken away today.
In a press statement moments after the largely expected news from Accra, Ghana, where CAF’s honchos were meeting, FKF said lack of standard infrastructure disadvantaged them in the face of other countries with ready facilities.
“The federation is of the view that it did everything humanly possible to ensure that CHAN 2018 became a reality,”
“Lack of up-to standard infrastructure to host the competition and the need to improve the existing ones, meant that Kenya would inevitably play second fiddle to better placed countries that have invested heavily on infrastructure development over the years,” the statement reads partly.
Kenya was officially handed the mantle to stage the showpiece in Rwanda in 2016 after a successful bid. They had two years to put their house in order and be ready to host it.
FKF terms the decision “unfavorable” but holds that it heralds anew dawn for Kenya in terms of infrastructure development as the four stadiums currently under renovation will be of long term good for sports in the country.
Ironically FKF has thanked the Cabinet Secretary for Sports Dr. Hassan Wario for “tirelessly” working to ensure CHAN 2018 became a reality.
Wario has come under fire for government’s wavering support for the tournament.
For example the government only came out to pledge Kshs 4.2 billion for the renovation work this week – three months to the tournament, which starts in January next year.
In their verdict, the CAF’s Executive Committee, which concluded it’s meeting in Accra, Ghana today, stated that Kenya would not be ready to host the tournament, and that the Kenyan football officials were being “untruthful.”
They also expressed concerns over the ongoing political impasse in the country.
The FKF boss Nick Mwendwa, who travelled to Accra to lobby for a favourable outcome had pledged that if the tournament is taken away then he would resign.
CAF will open fresh bids tomorrow for a new host. The winner after inspection will be announced in 15 days’ time.
