Government should improve infrastructure to attract teams to World Cup

It was good news to hear that the Minister for Sports Hellen Sambili has engaged envoys from 16 countries that have qualified for next year’s World Cup in South Africa.

This, coming after Harambee Stars lost 3-2 to Nigeria in a World Cup/Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the weekend, was a needed to give Kenyans a break from the bad news of missing out on next year’s continental championships in Angola.

But engaging the envoys was just the easier part. The real business is having a good infrastructure that will make it worthwhile for teams to come and train in the country.

The country may have lost a good opportunity to have a world class facility given the government cancelled a naming rights deal between the Sports Stadia Management Board (SSMB) and soft drink manufacturer Coca-Cola company for upgrading of the Nyayo National Stadium.

If everything had gone according to plan, the sports facility would have been available for some of the teams to train on their way to South Africa.

The beverage firm was determined to turn it around and make it a world-class facility which would have made the Government’s work easier to sell the venue to interested teams.

However, all is not lost and the Government should look for other partners to come on board and improve this and many other facilities in the country as Kenyans look forward to hosting world football powerhouses.

 

 

Read all about: World Cup Kenya Harambee stars Stadia Management Board

 

 

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