Government says Zambia is geared to host the under 20 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament.
A local Organizing Committee (LoC) drawn from various stakeholders which is tasked to spearhead the event arrangements has since been constituted.
And Government has so far allocated 5 million Kwacha and implored on the private sector to partner in the finance of the event which has an estimated budget of 25million Kwacha.
The Sports Minister said the LoC will oversee protocol, infrastructure, finance, marketing and sponsorship football and delegation services, medical and transportation.
Other areas include accreditation, media, safety and security, culture, entertainment and venue management.
He said government and other stakeholder are resolved to support and facilitate the hoisting of the upcoming event.
Mawere said preparations for Zambia under 20 national team for the event have reached an advanced stage with a program to camp them in Europe for friendlies in place.
ZANIS sports reports that the minister explained that the 20th edition continental football showpiece will provide an opportunity to in different areas of social and entrepreneurial service delivery in the country.
Mawere said during a press briefing that the tournament to be held 100 days from now will commence on the 26th February to the 12th of March will draw participation of eight countries.
He said the tournament would benefit the country through job creation, inflow of forex, attraction of soccer scouts as well as an opprtunuity to promote tourism and cultural diversity of Zambia.
“As a country we are happy to have an opportunity to host a football tournament of this magnitude.
” The country has put in place a local organizing committee to be chaired by FAZ and various sub committees to look into various issues related to the event, “he said.
Among the teams participating are Cameroun, Egypt, Guinea, Mali, South Africa, Sudan, Senegal and Zambia the host.
Comment:Atleast the U-20 boys plays better football,it’s worth it to host the tournament.
Apart from Heroes and LPM Stadiums, we need more quality stadiums in Livingstone and Kitwe in addition to the redevelopment of Woodlands stadium in Lusaka.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE CAMPED OUR PLAYERS IN EUROPE PRECEDING HIGH LEVEL FOOTBALL TOURNAMENTS AND WE HAVE ENDED UP BEING ELIMINATED JUST IN THE PRELIMINARIES?
Comment:please also clean the streets
Yaku!! Ready or not you need to do more work to really host something. Livingstone tried but is slowly slinking back to what was… maintenance, bane, maintenance! Dirty towns with mansions in the dust must really tell you something…
In addition to those places there is nice flat land in Eastern Province. Places like Petauke, katete Sinda Nakonde, Mpolokoso Mansa, Kabompo and Nyimba are very good places to put up a huge structure like a stadium so that in way encourage soccer to all provinces.
One thing those about this organization is that, people at the helm of things should be proactive, you do not need to wait until people loose their nerves and start querying for you to act! Give the public confidence not like what you have done this far. That is poor planning on bigger scale you have failed.
Comment:go go guys wishing you all the best
Please please Lusaka city council start cleaning the city it is ebalasing to see a city so fethy