A delegation of auditors from the audit firm, Price Waterhouse Coopers, hired by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) arrives Cameroon on August 20, 2017 to assess the country’s readiness to host the continental soccer jamboree.
By George MBELLA
August 20, 2017 will mark the debut of a period of suspense in Cameroon while a team of auditors from Price Waterhouse Coopers deployed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) starts assessing the country’s level of preparedness to host the 32nd African Cup of Nations (AFCON) soccer tournament in 2019. The deployment of the auditors was first announced by CAF’s President, Ahmad Ahmad, in Burkina Faso last August 6, 2017 after he declared doubt over Cameroon’s preparedness to host the competition. He said Cameroon needed to work harder to convince CAF on its capacity to host the event. “We will send experts. We will decide at the end of the mission,” he stated.
The statements by CAF’s boss have since sparked vivid reactions from government and soccer authorities as well as the public and the media in Cameroon. During a ceremony at the Presidency on August 10, 2017 to decorate athletes who scored brilliant performances in the 8th La Francophonie Games that held in Côte d’Ivoire, the President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya, reassured that Cameroon will be ready for the 2019 AFCON tournament on “D” Day. “I will personally see to it,” he promised. This corroborated the August 7 declaration by government’s spokesman and Communication Minister, Issa Tchiroma Bakary that Cameroon will be ready within the prescribed deadline.
In a series of decisions that followed, President Biya created the Organising Committee of the 2019 AFCON tournament and a series of emergency contracts were awarded to modernise and construct soccer and hospitality infrastructure in the city of Garoua. Moreso, the FCFA 500 billion budget earlier earmarked for the event has been increased to FCFA 700 billion.
In support of Cameroon’s obvious preparedness, former CAF boss, Issa Hayatou, told the State-owned audiovisual media Cameroon Radio Television on August 8, 2017 that Cameroon already had five stadia, with more under construction. He urged CAF to wait for the deadline because Cameroon is still two years away.
Most media headlines deciphered Malagasy-born Ahmad Ahmad’s statements as evidence of a grudge he bears against Issa Hayatou for withdrawing the organization of this year’s U-17 AFCON from Madagascar which did not meet prescribed preparedness standards four months to the event that finally held in Gabon last May.
Meanwhile, views from some critics across the board also surfaced with facts to prove the Cameroon’s unpreparedness; mentioning inadequate infrastructure, social unrest in the English-speaking regions and absence of adequate basic services which are far more urgent to be addressed than the hosting of a soccer tournament. Former indomitable lion, Patrick Mboma was the first to hit headlines with this wave of opinion on July 12 when he made known his concern on Cameroon’s readiness, given the slow pace of progress on different work sites.
Cameroon was chosen by CAF to host AFCON 2019 in September 2014 and won the trophy of the 2017 edition in Gabon after successfully hosting the 2016 African Women’s Cup of Nations. If the country survives the non-nonsense upcoming CAF inspection mission, then it will be the first to host the competition in its new 24-team format. Soccer lovers in this nation that bore soccer legends such as Albert Roger Milla and Samuel Eto’o Fils, look forward to a huge soccer frenzy 47 years after their country hosted the continental soccer jamboree.
Aug 23 2017 - 10:00
