Hosting Cup of Nations is good for local football

Harambee Starlets Defender Phoeby Owiti playing against South Sudan in the Africa Women Cup of Nations Qualifiers return leg match at the Nyayo National Stadium, Oct 23, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

News that the country intends to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside other East African countries is welcome.

The decision that was made during a recent Cabinet meeting chaired by President William Ruto will help the national football team, Harambee Stars, rise once again to the national stage.

A statement from State House said the Cabinet sanctioned the revitalisation of football as a key cog of the country's social fabric. This will be the third time the country will be seeking to host a major football tournament after winning the 1996 Afcon and 2018 African Nations Championship bids only to fail to stage the competitions due to unpreparedness and political uncertainty.

Kenya is a great sporting nation and is propably best known for its great athletes who have won several races at the Olympics, World Championships and other international events. But the country has also done well in other sports like cricket, rugby, football and even rallying.

Many will recall how Kenya shocked Fiji 30-7 in the final of the Singapore Rugby Sevens to claim their first ever World series title in 2016. With the win, they shot up to seventh in the world standings.

While other sports disciplines have had moments of glory, Harambee Stars has had mixed fortunes. Most of our athletes are members of the athletics' elite club, a stark contrast to football where poor management has been the order of the day.

Harambee Stars has taken part at the Nations Cup twice since 1993 and did not take part in the qualifiers for the 2023 finals following a ban by the governing body, Fifa.

That Kenya- one of the foremost African countries- has never taken a team to the World Cup ought to serve as a great indictment to the government and football managers in the country. Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Senegal and Cameroon, among others, are regular participants at the soccer fest.

Yet, the country has had individuals capable of kicking the ball at the highest level. Victor Wanyama, McDonald Mariga and Dennis Oliech are some of the Kenyan footballers who have played the game to the highest levels.

To make the dream of hosting Africa's top soccer event a reality, the country must invest in stadia and infrastructure beyond Nyayo Nationa Stadium and Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani.

Beyond this, we must get our act together and make football a worthwhile engagement. Talent must be tapped through academies in the counties.

Most successful soccer nations in Africa and beyond have well-organised leagues that then feed top talents to the national team. And we can do this.

Additionally, government should make it easy and worthwhile for the private sector to invest in sports.