CHAN venues: Save Kenya's hosting rights, Nyamweya pleads with State and FKF

FKF Chairman Sam Nyamweya, centre, address journalists as he is flanked by FKF Vice Chairman Robert Asembo, left, and Mohamed Omar FKF NEC Member during a meeting in Nairobi. They annonced that the Kenya Premiere League, KPL, will be rebranded to FKF Premiere League. 2nd November, 2014. Photo/Jonah Onyango.

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

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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.

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’]