Preparations for this year’s Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) are in top gear with the second phase of stadia upgrades set for completion next month.
The continental showpiece consisting of local players in the local leagues is slated for 2-30 August and will be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Kenya has been drawn in Group ‘A’ alongside Morocco, DR Congo, Zambia and Angola.
Sports Principal Secretary Eng. Peter Tum assured Kenyans that the country will be ready to host the biennial event. He also expressed faith in the newly-elected FKF executive led by President Hussein Mohammed.
“The Government is ready to make football great again because we now have the right team in the FKF office,” said PS Tum, during the opening of a two-day Kenya’s CHAN/AFCON National Steering Committee and Secretariat at Stadion Hotel, Kasarani, Nairobi.
Eng. Tum also noted that the government is determined to improve the infrastructure and put in place plans to prepare Harambee Stars for the 2027 AFCON also set to be played in the three East African nations.
“In recent times, we have done well with unprecedented renovations of three key stadiums, never seen before, at the Nyayo National Stadium, Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, and the Kip Keino Stadium in Eldoret. We also need to prepare our national team properly and the Government is ready to work with the FKF towards this end,” the PS noted.
“We cannot afford to fail Kenyans… the taxpayers have given you the resources and the opportunity to run the sport and there’s no room to let them down.”
PS Tum also inspected works at the Kasarani Stadium, disclosing that following the shifting of the CHAN kick-off dates, the government and Kenyan organizers had adjusted their work-plan to embark on works that had been scheduled for post-Chan with the 2027 Afcon Finals in mind.
He also noted that Phase Two of the Kasarani Stadium works will now be completed next month, and these include fixing the sound system and completing the canopy covering the stadium.
He explained that CAF had ruled that the Kasarani’s canopy should be “at least 25 percent complete” to host CHAN with the rest of the work to be completed from next month after the tournament.
“Following the postponement, the rest of the 75 percent will now be worked on and we shall work on match fixtures to test the stadiums.”
“CAF will then do a final assessment and decide which will be the lead stadium and which will be the support stadium between Kasarani and Nyayo. We are not under any pressure and we are ready to abide by all directions by CAF. “We are also working with private sector with a view to maintaining the stadiums to international standards.”
The Chairman of Kenya’s Local Organizing Committee for the Chan tournament, Nicholas Musonye and CEO, Myke Rabar, visited Dar es Salaam on January 29 and expressed their satisfaction with the progress in Tanzania’s preparations for the August competition.
