BFA engages govt on AFCON bid
Thato Kala | Wednesday September 24, 2014 11:01
Zimbabwe turned to Botswana after their initial effort to entice Zambia to co-host the AFCON 2017 edition hit a brick wall as their northern neighbours. Zambia, scheduled to host the Africa Youth Championships the same year, rejected the proposal.
Libya was supposed to host the AFCON 2017 edition but due to civil unrests, CAF stripped them off the opportunity.
In interview with Mmegi Sport yesterday, BFA vice president technical, Tariq Babitseng confirmed receipt of Zimbabwe’s proposal.
He said they immediately instructed the BFA chief executive officer, Keith Masters, to sound government on whether they would back the association should they partner with Zimbabwe on the bid.
“We received the letter from ZIFA on Monday and we have asked Keith Masters to see if government would buy into it should we agree to Zimbabwe’s proposal,” Babitseng said, adding that, “We do not have a problem with that”.
ZIFA chief executive, Jonathan Mashingaidze also confirmed they had engaged Botswana for the joint bid to challenge Ghana, Kenya and Tanzania who are also vying to host the 2017 edition.
Botswana and Zimbabwe have up to September 30 to thrash out an agreement as prospective countries have been given that deadline to submit their bids. ZIFA, who already have the support of President Robert Mugabe, believe they stand a good chance to win.