Venues for 2019 AYC finals out soon

TANZANIA announced yesterday it will soon reveal names of venues to host the 2019 Under-17 Africa Youth Championship (AYC) finals, just a week after it officially launched preparations for the championship.

Minister for Information, Culture, Arts and Sports, Harrison Mwakyembe, launched the preparations in Dar es Salaam last week, unveiling the event’s local organising committee.

His deputy, Juliana Shonza told the National Assembly here yesterday that the committee was working on the hosting venues and it will name them as soon as possible.

The deputy minister said the slots were also open for Dodoma and Singida, but cautioned that it can only be possible “if the construction work on a new stadium financed by Moroccan King Mohammed VI completes before 2019.”

The government’s remarks were prompted by a question from Singida-West MP Elibariki Kingu (CCM). The lawmaker said one of the requirements for the AFCON challenge is for the state to allocate two cities to host the championship.

“Has the government se lected any other town after Dar es Salaam to be the host?” he asked, noting further that Dodoma was the country’s capital and Singida region had improved Namfua Stadium and other sports infrastructure, including hotels to accommodate the visitors.

In response, Shonza acknowledged that the organising committee will consider the arena infrastructure as well as sufficient hotels to pick the hosting cities or towns.

In the case of Dodoma municipality, she noted that the construction work of the new stadium was going on and the government cannot place a deadline to the financier.

“Should the construction work complete on time, we may consider Dodoma in the selection process,” she said. Minister Mwakyembe committee is tasked to organise and ensure all preparations for the Confederation of African Football (CAF)level championship is done to the desired levels.

The committee appointed by Mwakyembe comprises various prominent figures in the country including ministers, permanent secretaries, regional commissioners, heads of various government organisations and notable business figures, making a strong 25- member committee.

It is to be chaired by the minister himself and comprises the former President of Tanzania Football Federation (TFF), Leodegar Tenga as the Vice-Chairman and Henry Tandau as its secretary.