FOOTBALL Kenya Federation (FKF) are yet to officially communicate through writing to the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) informing them of a joint bid to host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals.
Kenya has proposed a plan for a joint bid with Tanzania and other regional neighbours - Uganda and Kenya - to host the bi-annual tournament. Uganda and Rwanda football federations have reportedly accepted a joint bid together with Kenya to co-host the 2017 AFCON.
Asked if they will accept a joint bid with their East African compatriots, TFF Secretary General Celestine Mwesigwa told the 'Daily News' they are yet to receive official communication from the FKF.
"As I speak to you now TFF has not received any official communication from Kenya, therefore, I can not comment on the issue," Mwesigwa said.
Tanzania has for the first time in history submitted an official bid to host the African Cup of Nations after Libya, who had been selected to host the 2017 finals, pulled out because of the on-going political instability in the country, that has led to delays in plans to build stadiums.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) say that countries wishing to host the tournament have until September 30 to express their interest.
A decision on Libya's replacement will be made next year. In addition to the government guarantee and considering the limited time left for the organisation of the 2017 edition, the CAF Executive Committee will select a host country whose dossier guarantees that accommodation, transportation and hotels facilities, as well as training sites and stadiums already exist.
Another condition is that a hosting nation must have conducted one youth tournament before. In a related development, the Council of East and Central Africa Football Association (CECAFA) Secretary General, Nicholas Musonye, has been named to spearhead a joint bid by Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda to host the 2017 AFCON finals.
FKF Chairman Sam Nyamweya reiterated Kenya's intention to pursue a joint bid with either Tanzania or Rwanda to host the 2017 edition of the Nations Cup and has put in place a three-member committee to work on the process of putting up a joint bid. The committee comprises Musonye, Ayotunde Adelakun and Gerald Chege.
Speaking on his appointment, Chege said mechanics are already in place to put together a bid document for the event. "I am humbled by this appointment and want to tell all Kenyans that mechanics are already in place to make it a success.
We are ideally pursuing a joint bid with either Tanzania or Rwanda who already have the infrastructure," he said. The two neighbouring countries together with Uganda have also expressed interest in bidding for the event.
Chege was the executive officer for 2013 CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup and handled all the commercial work therein. He brings on board a decade's experience in club management, league activities, management of age-grade competitions and commercial engagement on behalf of football.
Musonye has been a long-serving CECAFA secretary general, growing the association to its current high standards. Tunde is an England-based football consultant on mainly African matters.
Source: allAfrica
Unaona hawa Wakenya walivyokuwa wakorofi. Sisi tayari tusha-bid for 2017, halafu wao wanatujia tushirikiane. Sasa ile bid yetu tuitoe? Tukikataa watasema unaona Watanzania hao hawataki mashirikianao!
ReplyDeleteWasingetusikia sisi tume-bid wala wao wasingetaka ku-bid!
Balaa hili jamani.