Ruto: Kenya to present joint bid to host Afcon

President Ruto said the government was willing to accommodate all stakeholders in setting up grassroots structures needed to nurture budding talent

Piece by: Tony Mballa
News

•The president expressed confidence in the team led by Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba and Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke, saying they had the right credentials to move the country's football forward.

•He further reiterated the importance of transforming the country's football landscape by embracing professionalism in the way things are done

William Ruto and Raila Odinga meeting during Mashemeji Derby
Image: PCS

Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will on Wednesday submit a joint bid for the upcoming African Cup of Nations, President William Ruto has confirmed. 

Ruto made the remarks during a press conference held at State House in Nairobi on Sunday evening. 

"Kenyan football had hit a snag because of the Fifa ban and so the first thing I did was to ask Ababu Namwamba to work with Fifa so that we can get ourselves out of the ban," Ruto said. 

"I'm happy within the first three and four months, we were out and now we are up and about and hopefully, this Wednesday we hope to place our bid for Afcon 2027 as a joint ticket bringing together Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Hopefully, I think we will get it," Ruto said.

The president expressed confidence in the team led by Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba and Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke, saying they had the right credentials to move the country's football forward.

"We have a good team at the Ministry of Sports and I will work with them to turn football around in this country. We have a very good chance," Ruto said.

He further reiterated the importance of transforming the country's football landscape by embracing professionalism in the way things are done.

"I was talking to the teams and I told them that we need to improve the situation in football to attract funds."

The president asked football fans in the country to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship.

"We need to be professional and avoid hooliganism. People need to be able to come with their families to watch football in the stadium without fearing that there could be fracas.

"We need a bit of discipline and begin to accept defeat gracefully and celebrate victory honorably. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose and that's the essence of sports."

President Ruto said the government was willing to accommodate all stakeholders in setting up grassroots structures needed to nurture budding talent.

"We have to rethink the whole strategy around and work with others so that government plays a facilitative role. We want to facilitate even private people to come up with academies."   

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