African Sports Monthly International Women's Day Special Edition | Page 13

The maiden major sporting event to be hosted by the country was the 2009 Confederation
of African Football Youth Championship (Under-20) tournament followed by the CAF
Under-17 Championship in 2011 in which they lost in the finals to Burkina Faso by a score of
2-1.
Following the successful hosting of these youth tournaments, the authorities took it a step
farther to bid for a much larger event; the 2016 Orange African Nations Championship
(CHAN) tournament, but that bid was met with scepticism by those who doubted if they
could actually pull it off.

“Some people may doubt our ability to host the games, even question our right to hold them
in the first place,” observed Vincent Mzamwita the President of the Rwanda Football
Federation (FERWAFA) and Chairperson of the Local Organizing Committee of the CHAN
tournament.
The absence of mega stadiums, reliable telecommunication infrastructure, accommodation
facilities and issues of Security were some of the issues that haunted Rwanda’s bid to host the
CHAN tournament.

But everything went well as the Rwandan authorities are reported to have pumped in a total
of US$21 million to give a facelift to several sporting facilities in the country in preparations
for the event.
These efforts appear to have paid off big as praises were heaped on the hosts even before
tournament had wrapped up. CAF officials and participating teams were singing from the
same hymn sheet, praising the way the Rwandese had conducted business.

The Second Vice President of CAF Kabele Camara was the first among the high profile official
to give the Rwandan officials a thumbs up.

“Rwanda has blown us away with the level of organization at the Chan 2016.Everything from
the infrastructure to transport, security, telecommunications, accommodation and the food
has been great.
“Everyone from CAF, participating teams and fans has appreciated the good work,”
explained Camara.

Former Nigerian Super Eagles Coach, Sunday Oliseh also showered praise on the way the
Rwanda Organizing Committee had run the show in hosting the biennial soccer tournament
played exclusively by players in domestic leagues on the continent.
“The moment we touched down.