Preps for CHAN on course – Huye mayor

With 97 days before the start of the 2016 Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) in Rwanda, the Mayor of Huye District, Eugène Kayiranga Muzuka has said his district is ready to offer quality services to make the tournament a success. Muzuka made the remarks on Thursday during a tour of the district by a delegation comprising officials from the Ministry of Sports and Culture (MINISPOC), Rwanda Football Association (FERWAFA) and Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA) to assess the progress on refurbishment of the facilities to host the event. “There is a committee in charge of service delivery in Huye City based hotels and restaurants, which is looking into the service delivery procedures,” Muzuka said. He added that there are new hotels under construction and others which are getting a facelift to meet CAF specifications. Meanwhile, the Local Organizing Committee of 2016 Africa Nations Championships has promised that the construction works regarding the hosting of the event in Huye District will be completed at the end of this month. The bi-annual tournament, reserved for only players featuring in their respective domestic leagues, is scheduled for January 16 through February 7 in the City of Kigali, Huye and Rubavu districts. The draw for the finals tournament will take place on November 18 at Kigali Serena Hotel. A total of 16 teams will play in the tournament. According to the director of sports in the Ministry of Sports and Culture, Emmanuel Bugingo, the work of upgrading Huye stadiums is going according to plan and will be completed by the end of the month. “We started these preparations in 2011 and all is going well so far. We believe that everything will be done and ready in time for the competition,” Bugingo who is also the vice president of Local Organising Committee (LOC) for CHAN, said on Thursday. The four stadiums that will host the two-week competition are being renovated by Rwanda Housing Authority. They include Amahoro, Kigali Regional Stadium, Huye and Umuganda. Rwanda Housing Authority’s Head of Housing Project and Development Department, Eric Serubibi noted that works on Huye stadium, Kamena training ground, Amahoro, Kigali regional stadium and Umuganda are in the final stages. Huye Stadium has capacity to accommodate 10,000 people, and has four dressing rooms, media rooms and a press conference as well as 120 restrooms. He said works to equip the Huye and Rubavu Stadium with lampposts to light the pitches during the night, will be done on time. He also said there will be surveillance cameras at all the stadiums and training grounds, for security purposes. editorial@newtimes.co.rw