Khartoum, Sudan, Feb. 6, GNA - The Local Organising
Committee (LOC) of the Sudan 2011 African Nations
Championship (CHAN) has set sights on hosting a tournament
that will last in the minds of all. Africa's largest country might not seem the best place to host
the second edition of the tournament designed exclusively for
footballers playing in their country of birth, with its synonymy with
media reports of political instability amongst others.
However, Dr Moaatesem Gaafar, President of the Sudan
Football Association (SFA) and a member of the LOC told GNA
Sports in Khartoum on Saturday that the expected success story
will serve the meal for a revised thought about the country. Sudan who last hosted a continental football championship in
1970 (Africa Cup of Nations) emerged the winners, and the
decision to stage the CHAN forms part of the planning and
development of the country.
The 2011 CHAN comes with a lot of challenges in terms of
infrastructure and organizational demands with an increase in the
number of participants from eight to 16, but Dr Gaafar has allayed
all fears saying they will meet the mark. "It's been long since we hosted a major football and I believe
this tournament will be the beginning of hosting more important
football events in the near future. "We also renovated and improved facilities at the Al-Hilal, Al
-Mariekh and Port-Sudan Stadia for the tournament." The tournament has led to series of development in the various
sectors of the Sudanese economy ranging from accommodation,
transportation, communication and amongst others. Upon on arrival at the Khartoum International Airport, one will
be received by the help desk just at the entry point for the
processing of visas. For accredited media, the visa is processed at
no cost and lasts not more than five minutes.
A stroll through the capital will reveal such modifications with
accommodation readily available at plush hotels such as Burj Al
Fateh on the Nile Road, Regency Hotel, Hilton and Holiday Villa. The logo and mascot of the tournament reflects on huge
billboards along the street, at supermarkets, hotels, restaurants and
local food joints confirming the huge enthusiasm in the
tournament. The tournament that runs rill February 25 has the DR Congo as
the defending champions.
