By Victoria GodfreyLeodger Tenga, the Chairman of the National Sports Council (BMT), has expressed that the postponement of the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) finals has given the country significant relief.
The CHAN tournament was initially scheduled to begin on February 1 this year, hosted by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. However, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced a delay, rescheduling the event to August.
Speaking at a sports stakeholders' conference in Dar es Salaam today, held in preparation for CHAN 2024 and AFCON 2027, Tenga acknowledged that the three-month window initially allocated for organizing such a major tournament was insufficient.
Despite this challenge, he conveyed their relief, knowing the extra time would ease the pressure.
In his 40 years of involvement in sports, Tenga noted that he had never encountered a situation where a country was expected to prepare for a large-scale event in such a short period. However, he emphasized that preparations were already underway, with the government playing a leading role to ensure the success of the tournament.
"The postponement has provided the country with valuable relief, even though we were already prepared. The Benjamin Mkapa Stadium and Amaan Zanzibar are in excellent condition, and the training facilities are also in top shape. The additional time allows us to refine our preparations and become even better hosts," he said.
Tenga also highlighted the economic and social opportunities that hosting such a prestigious tournament brings, urging stakeholders to maximize these opportunities for the benefit of the country.