Football: Work begins on CHAN stadia as CAF lays open options

Nyayo National Stadium An aerial view of the Nyayo National Stadium. [Oliver Ananda/www.sportpicha.co.ke]

Kenya upgrading stadia for CHAN, Morocco stands by

Upgrading of stadiums for next year’s African Nations Championship (CHAN) has began as Kenya strives to beat the deadline to host the tournament.

This even as it emerged that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has identified a standby host in case Kenya fails to be ready for the event.

The tournament could go to Morocco.

An inspection team from CAF arrives in the country on September 7 to give a final verdict on Kenya’s preparedness.

According to Sports Kenya Public Relations Officer Rakhi Asman the contractors are expected to ensure the works have reached an acceptable level before CAF inspectors arrive next month.

“I can confirm that works have began at Nyayo Stadium and the rest of contractors will be on site from tomorrow. We completed giving out the contracts at the weekend,” he said.

He added: “The contractors understand the urgency of the works and we expect them to ensure that they have done a huge chunk of it before the inspectors arrive.”

Apart from Nyayo Stadium, other stadia that will be upgraded are Kipchoge Keino, Meru and Machakos.

Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa said the remaining contracts will be given out this week and remains optimistic Kenya will host the tournament.

“Finally, we have some works going on after the contractors were identified. We are late, but hopefully they can work hard to ensure the tournament is not taken away. It is a fact that CAF always has an alternative host,” he said.

Mwendwa also said the federation has put in a bid to host this year’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup in December as preparations for hosting CHAN.

“We want to host the Senior Shallenge and have asked that it be given to us this year so that we can use it to test our preparedness for CHAN,” he said. [Gilbert Wandera]