Ex-FKF boss worried over hosting rights
Former Football Kenya Federation President Sam Nyamweya has urged the current office and the Government to pull all stops to save Keny
a from losing the rights to host the 2018 African Nations Championships (CHAN).
Nyamweya’s fears come as the Cabinet Secretary for Sports Hassan Wario, too, admitted, “All our grounds scheduled to host CHAN are in horrible state.”
Nyamweya expressed serious reservations over Kenya’s ability to host the event even as the Confederation of African Football (Caf) insists it was Kenya’s time.
READ MORE
Pressure mounts on Sakaja over Nairobi's service failures
Kakamega county disburses Sh12 million grant to women, youth
Activists demand system overhaul as fuel protests rock Nairobi
Standard Sports understands Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret has been knocked off the designated venues — a move that has rattled Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Hassan Wario, who made an impromptu visit at the facility yesterday.
“Our prayers are that this will not be the second time Kenya loses the chance to host a major football tournament after the country was stripped of the rights to host 1996 AFCON, which was later awarded to South Africa,” Nyamweya said.
He added: “Bidding for and winning the rights to bring CHAN to Kenya was not an easy task as our office had to work extra hard and put in place all the required bid documents,” Nyamweya said in a statement.
Nyamweya said Kenya stands to lose the various benefits that come along with hosting CHAN.
“A tournament of such magnitude will earn Kenya revenue in the hospitality and tourism sectors, thereby boosting the country’s economy.
“Hosting CHAN will also raise Kenya’s international profile,” he said. [Erick Ochieng’]
