No room to err

The government of Kenya through the Ministry of Sports says there will be no room for error should the Confederation of African Football (CAF) pass its joint bid for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations hosting rights.

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania’s unique AFCON hosting bid was due for submission to CAF yesterday for consideration despite a much talked about challenge of lack of stadiums that meet required standards in the region.

Governments in the EAC Pamoja Bid have committed a mandatory contribution of US dollars 30m,(approximately Sh 4 billion) each, leading to a grand total of USD 90m submitted to CAF as part of the bidding obligation by interested Member Associations.

Kenya’s Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba has called on Kenyans not to panic on the country’s desire to host the creme de la creme of African football in 2027, noting that the state will be better prepared as compared to the embarrassing 1996 and 2018 when Kenya’s hosting rights for AFCON and CHAN were revoked by CAF due to shambolic preparedness.

A confident Namwamba says he is the new sheriff in town and he is fully on the wheel to deliver.

“I would like to urge my fellow Kenyans to be optimistic about this bid.We are learning through our past history and we must be good students of history although not to be slaves of it.History tell us that we were give a go ahead to host the African Cup of Nations in 1996 but we lost it because poor preparations and also CHAN in 2018 on the same grounds of not being ready on required time. We are learning on that history which is not good at all.It will be a big embarrassment for Kenya to get the rights again and to throw it away because of the same reasons.I would like to assure Kenyans that this time we have a new script and new style of doing things.And I am the new sheriff in town and this time round we ready together with our brothers in Tanzania and Uganda to host AFCON.It is coming home,” Namwamba told People Daily Sport in an exclusive interview in Nairobi.

People Daily Sport can reveal that Kenya’s dependable sports arena Kasarani Stadium has been listed as one of the key stadiums to host the biannual continental showpiece should the region receive a nod from CAF. In the bid,Kenya has also listed Nyayo Stadium and Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret.

Kenya has also listed nine venues as training facilities which includes Kasarani Annex,Jamhuri Sports Ground,Utalii College,Ulinzi Sports Complex, Police Sacco Stadium and University of Eldoret.

Buoyant Minister Namwamba says he is fully aware of the concern of poor infrastructure, an aspect that can dent the ambitions of the region to play host to Africa’s premier competition.

In the EAC Pamoja bid,only Tanzania has a stadium that has met the CAF and FIFA standards for high level International matches.That is the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salam.

Kenya is still scrupling with upgrading of the Kasarani Stadium and Nyayo while Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret has been marred with back and forth wars between contractors and the ministry of sports on funding.

For the 10,000 seater Kipchoge Keino, it is believed to be at seventy-percent completion level although there could be re-designing of some critical areas to meet the required grade now that it has been listed as one of the venues by Kenya. A source has told People Daily Sport that close to kshs 200m is needed for the completion of the important arena, with a new deadline set for June next year.

Refurbishment works have been on Kasarani with seats fitted in the upper stands. Sitting capacity is believed to have reduced from 60,000 to about 55,000 after the installation of the seats. Part of the works remaining at Kenya’s paramount sporting venue includes standardization of the floodlights to recommended lux,changing rooms,media centre and permanent public address system.Drainage system on the playing surface has also been of great concern and will need attention of Sports Kenya.

Nyayo Stadium which is now a 20,000 seater capacity will essentially be required to be at par with Kasarani Stadium as mentioned above.The listed playing grounds should also be of the same level with match day venues as  far as playing surface is concerned and with fully equipped changing rooms.

Uganda is fast tracking redevelopment of the Nelson Mandela Namboole Stadium and Nakivubo Stadium both in Kampala.

Tanzania is set to construct three new stadiums including a 40,000 seater capacity stadium in Arusha to add on the ready-looking Benjamin Mkapa.

Some of the factors that are considered in selection or listing of a matchday venue or stadium according to CAF includes stadium capacity,accessibility in terms of road transport or air,proximity to a hospital of level five nature,hospitality and security of the area.

“Kenyans should not worry much about the stadiums but of course I will be lying if I say the issue is not a challenge,yes indeed it is a challenge. As we speak there is no single stadium that has reached the recommended international standards.In that case we have a lot of work ahead of us to face-lift Kasarani,Nyayo and Kipchoge Keino to ensure that we get the nod from CAF and FIFA.Challenges are there yes and it is not an easy job.However,we as Kenya Kwanza government led by President William Ruto we are committed to this desire and we have the power to deal with this challenge,” added Namwamba.

It is not yet clear on how much the government will need for the development of the key needed stadiums and the Sports CS says they are knitting a program dubbed infrastructure master plan which will lay out areas of interests and budget allocations upon its completion.

President Ruto’s direct involvement in the EAC Pamoja Bid has added wait on the region’s over due quest to host the continental competition.Ruto’s open talk about the aspirations to stage the 2027 AFCON has challenged his counterpart presidents of Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni to openly support the bid.This is according to Sports Ministers of Uganda,Peter Ogweno and Pindi Chana of Tanzania as noted by Namwamba.

Ababu Namwamba is not weary of competitions from other interested Member Associations of Botswana,Algeria and Egypt in the fight for the hosting rights.

“Even though they seem to be having good infrastructure especially Algeria and Egypt,we are ready to face them head on with this ambition,we have a better plan to tackle them.We are very confidence of getting the opportunity to host the tournament.We have ensured that our bid is interesting and unique,a bid that will convince CAF that the tourney should be hosted in the East African Community for the first time,”.

A contingent of CAF officials will begin inspection duties next month in the nations that have submitted official bids.

Should the EAC Pamoja Bid recieve a clean bill of health from the Confederation of African Football,it will be the first time that three countries host the coveted tournament and only the third time for countries to co-host.

In 2000,Nigeria and Ghana co-staged the competition as well as Gabon and Equatorial Guinea in 2012.