January 19,2002 7 SELECTION STEPS Bidding for cup is a straight forward process Bidding for the Africa Nations Cup is a straight forward process with any coun­ try feeling capable free to collect the B necessary papers, fill them and return them to CAF. The bid papers have detailed information on what is required to host the 16-nation tournament. There is a formal list of requirements in a guide­ line which describes in detail the facilities to be provided for players, spectators, officials and the media. This is followed by the inspection of the facili­ ties and a favourable report clears a country to start preparations. Bidding is usually made more than four years in advance to give sufficient time for the candidates to meet the requirements and more importantly, to drum up government sup­ port. Well developed stadiums, hotels, dressing rooms, press galleries, practice pitches, communi­ cation and flight connections are some of the requirements. Not so many countries are keen to host the African version of the World Cup. The govern­ ment's finances and patience is always stretched to breaking point because of the enormous invest­ ment that is required to refurbish its facilities. Fears of the cost of hosting the tournament Photos/File blocks many prospective candidates. Sometimes, Above: Nigerian fans celebrate during the last Nations Cup held in Nigeria and Ghana in 2000. Cameroon won the tournament. Left: Gha­ heavy investments are made without seeing a na's Sammy Kuffour (centre) is consoled by team-mate Charles Akonnor and South Africa's Pierre lssa after South Africa bundled Ghana financial return or the joy of winning the trophy Malawi and Zambia were scheduled to host the out of the 2000 Nations Cup. Ghana had lost to South Africa 1-0. 1984 and 1988 competitions but pulled because of economic hardships as did Kenya in 1996 partly ing from his decorated cabinet, and the Eagles have to to unlock the Lone Stars defence. As if that is not enough, Mali have to contend because of differences between the KFF and the It was his goal from a free kick against Uruguay with the intimidating presence of Weah in all his their work clearly cut out. Government. glory and the awe in which he is held in world and The presence of Henryk Kasperczack on Mali that gave Mali the bronze in Nigeria. Although the process looks simple. there is a lot bench, however, must be very assuring for youthful Mali. too, have their impressive army of foreign­ African football circles. which goes on behind the scenes. Besides the Also with him will be his team-mate at AI Jazirra, Mali side. based troops to call on. political goodwill which ensures support by the James Debah, Kelvin Sebwe and Joe Nagbe, all The Pole is vastly experienced in African football, It includes Dramane Coulibaly (Laval. France), government. intense lobbying and campaigns by experienced players who were part of the 1996 cam­ having guided Tunisia to a silver medal in 1996 and Mahamadou Diarra (Vitesse Anheim, Netherlands} candidates is inevitable. paign in South Africa. to France '98. and Abdoulaye Camara (Castel Di Sandro. Spain). One needs to be in the right books with CAF Others in the Lone Star line-up that the Malians The Malians, too, have a decent past record from Others are Mamadou Bagayoko (Stransbourg, also, a vital ingredient which is always down should be wary of is Bastia's Prince Daye, Frank which to stake a claim for a place among the best in France), Tenema N'diaye (Club Sfaxien, Tunisia) played. Seator and Oliver Makor. this tournament. and Bassala Toure (Panathanikos, Greece). CAF requires that the tournament be hosted in Besides, Liberia boast a record of 14 wins in 18 of They won a bronze medal at the World Youth Whether it will be Mali's turn to feel the pain of at least four different sites. As a result, it is a must last year's World Cup and Africa Nations qualifiers Championships in igeria in 1999 and that team is the hosts losing an opening match, a pain they to have basic infrastructure. Some countries have with Nigeria, Ghana and Congo as some of their vic­ the foundation on which the current side is built. inflicted on Tunisia in 1994. or George Opong had to build stadiums from scratch. tims. Midfielder Seydou Keita, voted the best player in Weah will make amends for the 1996 debacle. Mali Zimbabwe bore the brunt of CAF when they Add that to Weah's confessed desire to win a tro­ Nigeria and now at Lorient in the French First Divi­ v Liberia bears all the hallmarks of spellbinder. dragged their feet after being awarded the 2000 phy with the Lone Star, which is the only thing miss- sion, is one of the men the home fans will be looking Enjoy. tournament later transferred to Ghana and iger­ ia. Zimbabwe had four stadiums in two cities, Bul­ awayo and Harare. The National Stadium with a capacity of 60,000, Rufaro (45,000), Barbour Fields (45.000) and Luveve (30.000) met the minimum requirements continent's focus shifts to Bamako but two other venues were needed. Masvingo whom, apparently aware of the anxiety among local mal working hours for this story and now we had to needed $150.000 and Gweru $300,000 from the fans, called the Nation to say he had been watching as far as we knew, the match was going on and there write it. Besides, there was the other business of local authorities to meet the requirements. the match on a pay channel and that Kenya had was not a station we knew of that was transmitting it breaking the news to the callers many of whom But what shot down Zimbabwe's spirited chal­ been thrashed 6-1. It later turned out he was not live from Tunis. His problem was how to break the hang up without a word when they learnt what had lenge was cracks between the FA chairman Leo that far off the mark. Kenya lost 4-1. news to the fans. He feared they would attack him happened. It was a long night. Mugabe and CAF. Lukewarm communication There were also some overly optimistic crank call­ and destroy his television set. It was worse for the team in the El Menzah Sta­ between Zimbabwe and CAF on what was ers. Even we at the Nation sports desk found that we dium dressing room. ·· obody said anything. Every­ required also contributed and despite constant One kept calling the Nation saying he was follow­ had been sucked into this wave of anxiety. body just sat there quietly. Even we of the technical visits by the inspection team. Zimbabwe groped in ing the match on what he believed was a Tunisian Twice we called the Harambee Stars hotel in bench knew there was nothing we could say to the the dark for proper guidelines. radio station and from what he could gather - he Tunis. First a front desk attendant told us Tunisia players at that time to console them. Everyone was Indeed. it appeared that all was lost when CAF said the commentary was in Arabic, which he does were leading 3-0 and Kenya had lost one player to a devastated" said team manager. Joe Kadenge. president Issa Hayatou made a cynical statement not understand - Kenya were leading and really red card. Because earlier reports had indicated that So why did we not make it to Mali? Kadenge after Masvingo 's plans were presented to him. He had the Tunisians up and running. Kenya were doing fine. we thought this hotel blames it on the teams failure to take the chances said the plans were barely enough to build an offi­ One caller, who said he was the proprietor of a attendant either was ignorant or was just being that came their way on the pitch. cial residence. video show business in Bahati estate in Nairobi sadistic since we sounded desperate. "We missed chances we shouldn't have. especially Although the Zimbabwe government pledged Eastlands was not worried about Harambee Stars Meanwhile. we knew no peace. On our second in the match against Gabon in Libreville and financial support. it had to wait for a response to a request for a preliminary draft bt;dget presented losing or winning. He said he feared for his life. tel­ inquiry. the front desk man in Tunisia told us glee­ Morocco at home. Even without captain Musa by the FA. evision set and video cassette recorder. fullv Tunisia had won +1. Still we did not believe Otieno who had been sent off, we would have won The lukewarm response for bids for the tourna­ He said the small structure from which he oper­ him. until international news agencies sent in the away to Gabon had we taken our chances," said ment from member countries stems from the ated his business was fully packed with fans, whom first report of the match and confirmed what we had Kadenge. rapid expansion from a tournament in v.hich eight he had charged an entrance fee assuring them the been told on the phone by the man in the Tunis Meanwhile, Kenyans will just have to sit back and nations took part before being expanded to 12 in match would be broadcast live on television. hotel. enjoy the show in Mali from the sidelines and plot 1992 and 1994 and eventually to 16 in 1996. He sounded quite worried when we told him that It was 10.30 pm.