Time is flying fast as it becomes worrying for many football lovers across Kenya and Africa If indeed the country is ready to host the much awaited 2018 African Nations Championship better known as CHAN.
Kenya is staring at a deadline to have the facilities ready but with the elections fever high no one seems to bother if CHAN will be played or not as all the government machinery has resorted to campaigns with little being heard about the preparations.
CAF inspectors led by 2nd Vice President Constant Omari were in Kenya in June for inspections but left dissatisfied with four stadiums having been identified to host the event – Kasarani Safaricom and Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, Kenyatta in Machakos, and Kinoru in Embu. Apart for Safaricom and Kinoru, the rest are in poor poor shape.
Questions abound over the country’s readiness for the bonanza thus on Thursday last week in Rabat the CAF Exco intensified plan B incase things don’t fall in place when the inspectors arrive back for final inspections at the end of August with Kenyan elections slated for August 8th all the focus has shifted from sports to politics with nothing happening on the ground at all.
CAF is sincerely worried about the new developments and soka25east.com who were in Rabat for the CAF Symposium spoke to a number of Exco members on the hosting issues.
“Its worrying to see that nothing is happening on the ground that is why CAF has sort to have a ready plan B incase the inspectors come back with negative report of Kenya’s preparations ahead of CHAN.Its disappointing since it clearly reminds us of 1996 when they were unable to host Afcon which was later handed over to South Africa “One of the CAF Exco members who sort anonymity told soka25east.com
Just a week ago Kenya acquitted itself well by hosting the recent IAAF World U18 Championships last week. It demonstrated the ability to organise and manage major international sporting contests but with the CHAN it looks rather dodgy government lack of commitment even though Sports Principal Secretary Kirimi Kaberia assured that they will put in place all the required infrastructure before January 2018 yet no work has started so far on the ground.
The Confederation of Africa Football’s inspection team will be in the country on August 28. The team was last here in June and was not impressed.
It will be embarrassing if the country fails to host the championships, considering the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations was taken away from Kenya and given to South Africa issue is that could we see history repeating itself? The government must move with haste to rehabilitate the stadiums or else it will be only safe to say goodbye to the tournament.
