Chan: Kenya can't afford to lose second chance

From left: Chan LOC chairman Nicholas Musonye, Sports PS Peter Tum and FKF president Hussein Mohammed inspecting Kasarani Stadium. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Kenya is leaving nothing to chance as they prepare to co-host the delayed 2024 Africa Nations Championship (Chan) with Uganda and Tanzania in August.

The tournament involving local-based players was initially supposed to be held this month but postponed to August 2-30 due to hosting nations’ unpreparedness.

But with the East African region having been given a second opportunity by the Confederation of African Football (Caf), Sports Principal Secretary Peter Tum is confident they will stage a memorable event.

In 1996 (Afcon) and 2018 (Chan) Kenya lost the hosting rights to South Africa and Morocco respectively due to a lack of standardised facilities.

Renovations are still going on both at Kasarani and Nyayo stadium which have been earmarked for the tournament alongside the three training venues namely Ulinzi Sports Complex, Police Sacco Stadium and Kasarani Annex.

Harambee Stars have been drawn in Group A together with Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia, Angola.

Speaking after opening a two-day workshop for Kenya’s Chan/ Afcon National Steering Committee and Secretariat at the Moi International Sports Centre’s Stadion Hotel on Thursday, Tum said they are leaving no stones unturned to ensure they are ready for the competition.

“The government is ready to make football great again because we have the right team in the FKF office,” said Tum.

“In recent times we have done well with unprecedented renovations of three key stadiums, never seen before, at the Nyayo National Stadium, Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, and the Kip Keino Stadium in Eldoret. We also need to prepare our team properly and the government is ready to work with the FKF towards this end.

“We cannot afford to fail Kenyans… the taxpayers have given you the resources and the opportunity to run the sport and there’s no room to let them down.”

Tum’s sentiments were echoed by Kenya’s LOC chairman Nicholas Musonye and CEO Myke Rabar who recently visited Dar es Salaam, and expressed their satisfaction with the progress in Tanzania’s preparations for the August competition.

The workshop was also graced by FKF president Hussein Mohammed, Caf’s Chan/Afcon host country manager for Kenya Kabelo Bosilong, and Cecafa CEO Auka Gecheo.