Nothing to show for as new Caf inspection looms
What you need to know:
- Kenya is in another race against time to convince African football chiefs that it is ready to host the African Nations Championship slated for January.
- The Confederation of African Football have confirmed a new inspection visit at the end of August “to assess progress following the June 2017 mission”.
- And with just six months to the championships, nothing much has happened on designated venues, perhaps with the exception of Moi International Sports Centre that recently successfully hosted the IAAF World Under-18 Championships.
Kenya is in another race against time to convince African football chiefs that it is ready to host the African Nations Championship slated for January.
The Confederation of African Football have confirmed a new inspection visit at the end of August “to assess progress following the June 2017 mission”.
And with just six months to the championships, nothing much has happened on designated venues, perhaps with the exception of Moi International Sports Centre that recently successfully hosted the IAAF World Under-18 Championships.
Nyayo, Kipchoge Keino and Kinoru are the other stadiums that will host matches at the biennial event but their state did not impress Caf at their last visit last month.
Sports Kenya Director General Saima Ondimu and Sports Permanent Secretary Kirimi Kaberia told Nation Sport on Friday that another Caf delegation was expected on August 28, but that construction work in the proposed match venues may not begin until next month.
“We received a number of bids from our advertised tenders and are doing the shortlisting. We have agreed that work will begin in August so by the time the inspectors come in at the end of that month, they will find contractors at the site,” said Ondimu. “We have been focused on the World Under-18 tournament but that is now out of the way. The tendering process is now at an advanced stage and we shall shortly hit the ground running. The works will be in place before the inspectors are here,” Kaberia said.
On June 21 Sports Kenya advertised for tenders to do refurbishment work at the designated venues.
NEW GRASS LAID
The stadiums are to have new grass laid, be fitted with seats, electronic installations as well as the latest state-of-the-art water reticulation and irrigation system aimed at maintaining the quality of the grass.
Ondimu said that the tenders are still being reviewed.
Herbert Mwachiro, who heads the Chan Local Organising Committee, said that although things had not been moving at the desired speed, he was confident that they would have a good inspection.
“We could move faster, but the good thing is that we are moving in the right direction. We need to look at the bigger picture. The work done in Kasarani in the run up to the World Under-18 tournament has really done us a great favour,” Mwachiro said.
