The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the 2018 Championship of African Nations (CHAN), to be hosted in Kenya, yesterday held its maiden meeting ahead of Confederations of African Football (CAF) inspectors’ visit this week.
The meeting held at the Kasarani Stadium, and chaired by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) boss Nick Mwendwa centered on the level of the country’s preparedness to stage the continental showpiece, and the pending inspection.
“The LOC discussed a wide range of issues touching on the country’s level of preparedness and the upcoming CAF inspection visit scheduled to take place between 20th and 25th February 2017,” a statement from FKF states.
Mwendwa, who has constantly assured Kenya will be ready to host the tournament, expressed delight LOC hit the ground running.
“I’m happy that LOC has met for the first time since it was gazetted,” he said, adding the pending inspection will be crucial in further gauging Kenya’s capacity to be a successful host.
“It is vital to point out that the outcome of the inspection will determine further our capability and capacity to successfully host CHAN 2018 in Kenya.”
“As the host nation, we want to remove any doubts during the inspection and assure CAF and Africa as a whole that Kenya will be ready in time and successfully host the 2018 CHAN, which we believe will dispel any notion that there is need for CAF to seek an alternative host,” he concluded.
Morocco Football Association announced government’s support to take the hosting rights from Kenya in case they fail readiness test. Also eyeing the slot are neighbors Ethiopia.
The visit is a follow-up of two previous inspections 2016. The identified venues for the tournament are Nairobi, Eldoret, Meru and possibly Machakos.
