KFF rejects bid to host 2016 Africa Cup of Nations

By James Waindi

Kenya Football Federation (KFF) has rejected Kenya’s bid to host the 2016 Africa Cup of Nations.

The move could be a blow to the country’s prospects of hosting the Africa’s premier event for the first time in history. KFF Chairman Sam Nyamweya insists there is no need for bidding to host an event of such a magnitude without proper structures in place.

"Continental and regional tournaments should only be used as platforms to showcase the final products emanating from organised structures. We are not supporting the bid because it is meaningless," said Nyamweya.

"The Government should invest in grassroot football instead of rushing to host the Cup of Nations which may turn to be a disaster like Cecafa, where organisers splashed Sh6 million and fans didn’t turn out at stadiums when the national team failed to reach the semi-finals," he said.

KFF’s rival Football Kenya Limited through its chairman Mohammed Hatimy, had on Monday announced they had submitted the bid to the Confederation of African Football and were hoping to champion for it during the CAF congress meeting in Luanda, Angola, next month.

"The just-ended Cecafa tournament is a pointer of our inability to concentrate, professionally manage and organise a tournament of such a magnitude. The challenge to Kenyans, the Government and the corporate world is to avail funds to develop the game from the grassroots," said Nyamweya.

He said success in football is not judged by the number of tournaments a country hosts, but by the manner in which it develops its infrastructure for youth development.

"It is our take that though the idea of bidding to host the CAN is noble, the timing is not prudent because the country at the moment does not have anything to show at that level," said Nyamweya.