Zimbabwe/Botswana: Botswana Wont Join Our Bid ZIMBABWES chances of securing the rights to stage the 2017 African Cup of Nations were dealt another big blow when their proposed co-hosts Botswana withdrew from the bidding process ahead of todays Confederation of African Football deadline. Although Zifa pressed ahead and submitted their bid document at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, yesterday, they had to go it alone after failing to get Botswana to partner them. CAF had set September 30 as the deadline by which all prospective countries willing to host the competition would have to tender their bids. Zimbabwe dispatched Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze to Egypt on Sunday to submit the bid document after establishing that Botswana were no longer able to partner them in the ambitious process despite their Botswana Football Association counterparts having expressed a strong interest on a joint bid. It also emerged a day before yesterday that while the BFA had agreed in principle with Zifa for the two associations to go into bed, they had failed to secure the crucial guarantee from the Botswana government. Without a government guarantee to underwrite the costs of the tournament and enforce all the necessary CAF requirements, a countrys bid would be doomed from the start. Sources said yesterday that while the BFA may have expressed a wish to bid to host the Nations Cup, they once again failed to get their governments backing on the move. Earlier this year, the BFA also failed to secure government support for the staging of the Cosafa Senior Mens Challenge Cup and the competition has had to be shelved for 2014. Sources close to the goings-on at CAF also revealed last night that although the continental body may have invited for bids, this is merely a routine thing but really CAF know who they want to hand the 2017 tournament to and it is a country that already has the facilities. Zifa, together with relevant stakeholders, on Saturday concluded the 2017 AFCON bid document for submission before tomorrows (todays) deadline. Zifa chief executive officer, Jonathan Mashingaidze, departed for Cairo, Egypt yesterday evening where he will submit the document today (yesterday) at the Confederation of African Football headquarters. Botswana Football Association withdrew from the organisation of the event, citing ill-preparedness despite expressing will in their initial response, Gwesela said. South Africa hosted the 29th edition of the tourney in 2013 while Morocco will stage next years competition.
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 04:05:00 +0000
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