CAF to meet CAN 2008 Bid Committee

Banjul, Gambia, May 22, GNA - The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) will hold discussions with members of Ghana's Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the CAN 2008 Nations Cup next month over the level of preparations made the country for the hosting of the event.

The meeting is to inform the Confederation on the infrastructural development being put up Ghana as well as other preparations for the biggest soccer fiesta in Africa.

Gen. Seyi Memeneh, Vice President of CAF told the will provide the Ghanaians the opportunity to re-affirm their ability to organise the competition. The CAF scribe denied knowledge of any problems currently being faced by Ghana in the construction of the various stadia for the championship.

He said the meeting has nothing to do with such Problems, adding that CAF has the strongest belief in the ability of Ghana to organise a successful event. General Memeneh said till the expiration of the deadline given Ghana is near, there is no need to express doubts over the country's ability to host the rest of Africa.

He said CAN 2008 is not the present pre-occupation of CAF but that their immediate concern is the one to be hosted by Egypt in 2006, adding that it is hoped that Ghana should be ready when it gets to their turn in 2008.

He said Ghana has up to 2007 to round up their preparations for the event and it is only after this that CAF will be fully aware as to the abilities of Ghana to host the rest of Africa.

Gen. Memeneh however stated that other countries are ready to take up the hosting right should Ghana fail to make up the grade for the hosting of the championship.

He mentioned Libya as one of the countries ready to step in for Ghana, though he reiterated his hope in Ghana's capabilities of doing so.

The LOC of Ghana recently said in a statement that there have been delays in the start of infrastructure development for the championship due to the delay in the release of funds for embarking on renovations on the stadia's that are to be used as well as the construction of new ones.

According to experts it will take 36 months for the completion of the buildings of new stadiums, but Ghana is left with 32 months, hence the envisaged delay on the projects.