MAGOGO ,FUFA PRESIDENT IS OPTIMISTIC AFCON 2027 EAST AFRICAN PAMOJA JOINT BID WILL SUCCEED

As the CAF Inspection exercise for the East African Nations AFCON  host joint bid dubbed as ` East African Pamoja’,  2027 takes centre stage, the FUFA president Eng. Moses Magogo sounds very optimistic and enthusiastic that the bid will be successful considering the fact that it has been vehemently supported the respective Heads of States.

While addressing sports reporters at FUFA offices in Mengo Eng. Magogo said that the CAF Inspection team is in Kenya today 25, July 2023 and FUFA sent its EXCO Member Ronnie Kalema to observe the process.  He said that the inspectors are technictrates highered by CAF from Price Water Coopers based in Switzerland.

He also said that FUFA’s assistant CEO, Rogers Byamukama will also move with the team to Tanzania to do the same and in the same manner an official from Kenya and Tanzania will also travel with the CAF team such that there’s a working relationship.

Eng Magogo also said in the bid document, FUFA indicated a number of facilities as required as per the CAF biding rules and regulation and among those were, Nakivubo War Memorial play grounds, St. Mary’s Kitende, Mutesa II Wankulukuku Stadium earmarked for training. While Serena and Sheraton will represent other hotel facilities and Mulago Referral hospital is the only medical facility that was put in the bid.

He said that FUFA is fully backed by government and due to such 2 modern new stadium will be constructed, one at Hoima and the other at Lira and he is confident that if the biding goes through these playing grounds will be completed on time to host the matches. Meanwhile, Entebbe International Airport that is currently under refurbishment and Kabaale International Airport whose construction commenced in 2018 were also among the facilities submitted in the biding documents.

“I want to inform the public that bids are awarded on plans not what exists in reality. We have the confidence that by 2027 the necessary infrastructures will be in place. This bid is for all of us. Every Ugandan should support it, because Government has made the commitment to do massive investment in infrastructures.’’ Magogo said

He add; “ When Uganda hosted CHOGM in 2007 there were  benefits that came along, including the hotels such as five star hotels that are on international standards. We believe hosting AFCON will have lasting impact on this region in terms of sports infrastactures.’’

The inspection team according to FUFA will be here for two days starting on July 28, 2023 and will end the exercise on July 29, there after they will proceed to Tanzania to do the same job from which they will make a comprehensive report on the findings and readiness for the EAC to host the African prestige soccer competitions.

Other ‘East Africa Pamoja’ competitors are; Nigeria, Algeria and Botoswana but considering the fact that CAF has embarked on the rotational policy basis, this gives the former an upper edge on winning the  bid because the 35th  edition, 2025 AFCON will be hosted by Guinea and Ivory Coast a West African state will hosted the 2023 AFCON.

By George Bukenya

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