Kenyan chance to host Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) is on course as top organizing officials on Thursday pre-inspected Kipchoge Keino stadium in Eldoret, which is part of the stadium Football kenya Federation (FKF) is looking upon to host the matches
With just eleven months to the biennual tournament that involves players to play football within the continent, the stadium is undergoing a facelift that will take eight months to be complete.
Speaking in Eldoret after pre-inspecting the facility that is under construction, Deputy Chief Executive officer and Event Director Herbert Tawa Mwachiro said the facility will play a critical role in ensuring that the championships are a success.
Kenyan won to host the CHAN slated for January, and on Thursday morning, mwachiro was optimistic that the stadium will be ready.
“Next week, CAF will be sending a highly level of technical team to come and see our level of preparedness in hosting such tournament which is just eleven months away from now. We have to work extra time to ensure we meet the deadline,” said Mwachiro who was accompanied by assistant director Thomas Ochieng.
With the stadium contractor only given half of the facility for upgrading, Mwachiro was optimistic the facility come next year, it will be ready for the championships.
Mwachiro was part of the team that arrived from Gabon on benchmarking exercise where they held many meetings with CAF hierarchy and gave them all levels of support to ensure that Kenya hosts this tournament.
“We don’t want to lose this event. Remember in 1996 we had been awarded to host Africa Football Championships (AFCON) but it did not happen but that doesen’t matter now. We are focused as the rest of Africa feels that it is important for Kenya finally joins the football fraternity of Africa by hosting a major tournament where there is so much good will that this event is held here,” assured Mwachiro.