Hayatou confident Kenya will host CHAN after meeting Ruto

Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) president, Issa Hayatou, met Deputy President William Ruto on Friday where he expressed confidence the country will successfully host the 2018 CHAN tournament.

Hayatou is in the country to access Kenya’s readiness to stage the second-tier continental showpiece open to home grown players with a scheduled media briefing that was scheduled for Nairobi’s Safaricom Stadium cancelled at the last minute.

The veteran Cameroonian football administrator who was world body’s Fifa interim president when Sepp Blatter was forced to step down in disgrace due to a mega corruption scandal visited the country’s deputy leader in his office to ascertain Government’s commitment to the tournament.

“The tournament will give the locals the opportunity to exploit their talents in the field of football.

“We started this tournament in 2009 to provide strong foundation for the development of football in Africa,” Hayatou said during the call on Ruto.

In his remarks, Ruto assured the CAF boss the country was working round the clock to complete its infrastructure in time for the success of the biennial tournament.

Speaking at his Harambee Annex office, the Deputy President added Government recognizes the role played by sporting activities in the development of the country.

“We want to see how we can work with the rest of Africa to give sport the profile it requires. Through your leadership, Mr. President, we appreciate Kenya was considered and given the opportunity to host the African Home Championships in 2018,” Ruto added.

“As I committed to your deputy, I want to tell you the Government of Kenya will work overtime to ensure these Championships are held professionally, in the best possible manner and the Kenyan population is behind us to ensure the Championships are successful,” the Deputy President affirmed.

Earlier, Hayatou was on hand to present Mathare United Under 20 team with their trophy and Ksh500,000 after they beat their Gor Mahia counterparts in the final of the Kenyan Premier League Under 20 Championship at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium.

He was flanked by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president, Nick Mwendwa with both scheduled to address the media on the progress of Hayatou’s visit and 2018 CHAN until the function was called off.

“This is to inform you that the CAF/FKF joint press briefing that was scheduled for today, August 26, 2016 has been called off. This is to allow both parties more time to consult on the issues at hand.

“FKF will issue a comprehensive statement on the same latest tomorrow, Saturday, August 27, 2016. FKF wishes to apologize for any inconveniences caused,” a statement signed by federation communications director, Barry Otieno, read.

The 2018 CHAN will be the first CAF sanctioned event for Kenya to host after the Government failed to guarantee the hosting of the 1996 Afcon for political reasons in an act that saw the tournament moved to South Africa and the country banned from the event for two editions.