CAF wants KSh7b commitment from Kenya to bring CHAN

Kenya has until August 28 to convince the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on the state of their preparedness in hosting CHAN 2018 with the Kenyan government needing a KSh 7b budget for the tournament according Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa.

CAF will send a delegation 20 days after the General Elections for a final assessment of tournament facilities with the governing body also keen to see how the August 8 polls unfold as the local government is key financier of the showpiece.

FKF boos Mwendwa who attended the two-day CAF symposium held in Rabat said he presented a report detailing the readiness of the country for the tournament before the Executive Committee set the deadline.

“I sat with the exco and there is goodwill from them, they still want CHAN in Kenya. Only ourselves can throw away this rare chance, because they want to find serious work in progress in their last inspection visit. The government and every stakeholder must prove we need this by word and deed,” Mwendwa told Citizen Digital at the Moroccan capital.

According to the FKF boss, Ksh. 4b is for construction work while about 3b is for ‘soft operations’.

“You have seen how countries like Morocco are, very ready for such tournaments any time. We need to host it at least to improve our infrastructure, and give our players good grounds to play in. You have seen our players unable to deliver on some turfs simply because they are used to rough conditions, we can change that and here is the opportunity,” Mwendwa said.

After last week’s successful IAAF World Under-18 Athletics Championships hosted in Kenya which had overwhelming government support, football stakeholders are optimistic the same muscle will be applied to save the country’s CHAN hosting rights.

However, Mwendwa is under no illusion that a continental football championship is way more expensive compared to the Under-18 athletics fiesta.

“We have to apprentice the cost of doing this, football is different from athletics.

“You need no special grass on the fields for athletics which is a must in football.

“Eldoret, Machakos, Nairobi and Meru must be ready before you bring those teams to Kenya,” he explained.

Ethiopia is among countries reported to be on the standby if Kenya fails to pass the test.

This would be a repeat of 1996 when the country failed to host Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which was taken to South Africa who went on to win the competition.

Citizen Digital unearthed in March during the CAF Ordinary General Congress that former President Daniel Arap Moi called the former African football governing body’s president Issa Hayatou cancelling the hosting opportunity for ‘political reasons’.

Dominic Chimavi, Communications Director at the South African Football Association (Safa), described Kenya as a sporting nation that should lead East Africa in delivering continental championships.

“The mentality that Kenya can only do well in athletics is so misinformed. Look, their rugby sevens team is fantastic. Football clubs like Gor Mahia and AFC are very respected in Africa, and they have shined in cricket too. Why fail to host a tournament Rwanda hosted just the other day?” He posed.

However, Chimavi said CAF president showed reservations about Kenya’s preparations in a recent visit to Johannesburg.

“Ahmad was categorical Kenya is far from being ready. His body language clearly showed he would be disappointed to move CHAN elsewhere,” he noted.

Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) president Juneydi Basha wants Kenya to ‘avoid shame’ and host CHAN, despite reports that CAF could take the tourney to his country.

“We are neighbours in CECAFA zone, so we wish that Kenya gets it right this time round. We know CHAN is coming to Ethiopia in 2020 and there is no debate about that. Why should we therefore laugh while Kenya is crying?”

This comes at a time CAF is seeking better partnerships with governments and federations as discussed in the just concluded symposium in Morocco.

-Jacob Icia is reporting from Rabat, Morocco.