Hosting facilities will be ready by Dec. 2018

             -Bidoung Mkpatt, Minister of Sports

Minister of Sports, Bidoung Mkpatt

Being his preliminary Statement at a press briefing ahead of the CAF Inspection Mission to Cameroon

It is a renewed pleasure for me to be here with you once again today, within the framework of this press briefing relating to the preparation of the upcoming CAF inspection mission to take place in Cameroon from 11 to 23 January 2018.

                Before I proceed, I would like to reiterate my appreciation to the Minister of Communication, Government’s Spokesman, for his dynamic collaboration in all activities relating to the Cameroon 2019 Total AFCON, as testimony of the efficiency of Government’s solidarity, as prescribed by the Prime Minister, Head of Government.

                I would also like to thank and congratulate you, Men and women of the media, on your various contributions relating to the hosting, by our country, of the Cameroon 2019 Total AFCON. The massive turn out today is testimony of your resolve to contribute your own quota and give visibility and clarity to activities relating to the organization of this prestigious even by our country.

                Coming back to the topic of the day, I would like to recall that a few weeks ago, CAF Executive Committee informed the Normalization Committee of FECAFOOT that CAF first inspection mission will be dispatched to Cameroon from 11 to 23 January 2018.

                This mission will comprise 10 personalities, among them 5 from CAF and five (5) experts from Roland Berger Audit Firm.

                Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, I would like to recall that CAF first inspection mission to Cameroon is taking place about ten days after the reiterated commitment, on 31 December 2017, by the President of the Republic, Head of State, in his address to the Nation, to do everything to ensure the successful hosting of the Cameroon 2016 Total AFCON. In his address, he had this to say, I quote: “As you are aware, in 2019, our country will host the large continental family on the occasion of the Africa Cup of Nations. Beyond the purely sporting aspect, this will avail us an opportunity to offer our guests, Cameroon’s warm hospitality. I have no doubt that, like our athletes, our population will rise to the occasion and showcase Cameroon at its best. Our country will be ready for this grand celebration of friendship. I have made a commitment to that end.” End of quote.

                As part of preparations for CAF first inspection mission, consultations have intensified, within the Site Committees and the Central Organizing Committee.

                Concerning the Site Committees, the Chairpersons, namely the Governors of the Regions concerned, have regularly visited the sites under construction and/or rehabilitation for the Cameroon 2019 Total AFCON. Consultation meetings were organized in a bid to fine tune strategies to ensure that CAF inspection mission is methodical and harmonious.

                Concerning the Technical Committees of the Central organizing Committee, they are working in synergy, in compliance with the prescriptions contained in CAF new list of Requirements, and in close collaboration with the Normalisation Committee of FECAFOOT.

                The recent working session I chaired on 8 January 2018, was attended by the 16 Technical Committees. Its main topic was the preparation of the upcoming CAF inspection mission to Cameroon.

                The meeting on 9 January 2018 with officials of Supervising firms and Heads of companies awarded contracts for the Cameroon 2019 Total AFCON working on the various sites provided an occasion to agree on all arrangements to be made in order to comply with the suggestions made by CAF in their recent correspondences.

                In this regard, the Tentative programmer of the inspection visit was examined, adopted and forwarded to CAF by the Normalisation Committee of FECAFOOT for adjustment, if need be.

The final programme approved by CAF for this inspection visit in inserted in the document prepared by COCAN as a summary situation of preparatory activities for this prestigious event. This document is one of the constituent in the kit to be handed to each of the members of the inspection mission.

                Generally speaking, the host cities, as per the Framework Agreement of the Cameroon 2019 Total AFCON, were selected and the sites identifies as follows: the Olembe Site; the Mfandena Site; the Garoua Site; the Bafoussam Site; the Douala Site and the Buea-Limbe Site. The facilities in the various Sites have been listed. In short, in accordance with CAF list of requirements, these concern sports facilities, hotels, hospitals, airports, and other networks (water, electricity, ICTs and so on).

                Concerning the sports facilities, after the signing of the contracts with all the companies selected for their construction and rehabilitation, all the companies concerned are mobilized and currently on the various sites and committed to respecting the deadlines. As for the two most important projects, namely the Japoma Stadium with 50 seats and the Olembe Stadium with 60 000 seats, work is going on satisfactorily. As far as the Olembe Stadium is particularly concerned, a second cargo of Two hundred and sixty three (263) containers carrying precast materials from Italy is already on site as follows: Seventy eight (78 containers for the pillars, Ninety one (91) for the beams and Sixty two (62) for the slabs.

                Delivery on the various facilities is expected by December 2018, latest.

                It should also be specified that concerning the AFCON symbols (Anthem and Mascot), the competent Committees have finalized the documents on the calls for the expression of interest for their selection.

                These documents have been transmitted to CAF by the Normalization Committee of FECAFOOT for approval.

                Lastly, concerning the event communications, the Central Organising Committee and the Site Committees have been receiving offers to be reviewed by the competent committees when time comes.

                All in all, I want to stress that the various stakeholders are working in serenity, relentlessly, in view of the upcoming mission from the African football Confederation to our country. The President of the Republic, Head of State, is committed to giving his personal impetus to the preparations of the Cameroon 2019 Total AFCON towards a successful organization of this prestigious event. The entire government, under the coordination of the Prime Minister, Head of Government is working hard, for the various partner Ministers and Structures to bring practical solutions, each in their respective sectors, to the demands contained in CAF list of requirements.

                All the members of the various Technical Committees, at the levels of the Central Organising Committee and the Site Committee, the national and international companies involved, are mobilized to ensure the success of CAF first inspection mission to our country.

                Besides, the president of the normalization committee of the Cameroon Football Federation and his collaborators, together with the Local Organising Committee, is working relentlessly, to ensure mutually beneficial administrative and technical exchanges with CAF, and to ensure the preparation, in serenity, of all activities relating to the Cameroon 2019 Total AFCON.

                Furthermore, all arrangements are made in terms of logistics and security, at the level of the various sites, in order to make it possible for the CAF inspection mission to work in serenity.

                Within the preparation for the forthcoming CAF inspection mission, following working sessions mentioned above with the members of the Technical Committees of COCAN and the companies on 8 and 9 January respectively, the aim of this encounter with you today is aimed at remaining you, your patriotic duty to contribute in the success of the coming inspection mission. In this regard, I want to reiterate my call on the mobilization of all the forces and competences in our country, especially among the media, so that everyone, in their own way, wherever they are, contributes their own quote, as little as it may be, for us to meet this first collective challenge.

                The upcoming CAF inspection mission to Cameroon is expected to be not only a privileged moment of franc and constructive exchanges, but also a single opportunity to consolidate, through concrete actions, the commitment made by our country, to successfully host the Cameroon 2019 Total AFCON in its new format with 24 participating countries. This challenge must be met with the contribution of the men and women of the media.

                The challenge of making the first inspection mission a success depends on a methodical, professional and complementary organisatino of all stakeholders involved.

                Gone are the days of misunderstandings between Cameroon and CAF, due to alarming information sent to this African football governing body from various sources and activists with untold objectives. It is now time for appeasement and constructive collaboration so that we may take the best possible advantage from CAF, on the vision concerning the organization of the Cameroon 2019 Total AFCON in its new format with 24 participating countries.

                You have an important role to play in the process leading to the final phase of the Africa Cup of Nations to take place in June-July 2019 in Cameroon. Your AFCON is in the area of communication and you must absolutely to come out victorious.

                Forty five years ago, Cameroon hosted the 8th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations on its soil. Unfortunately, this great event ended in painful memories. About half a century later, a similar event is to take place in our country. What will history retain concerning your contribution to the success of this event? Men and women of the media, you are key actors of this prestigious organization. Make your contribution with patriotism, commitment and professionalism.

                In this regard, I invite you to respect the protocol to be indicated by CAF concerning communication during this first inspection mission to Cameroon. Officials of the Communication Committee and those of the Normalization Committee of FECAFOOT, will make related practical information available to you on due course.

In respect of the commitment made during our first press briefing, meetings of this kind will be more frequent, for us to share information likely to enlighten the opinion, on the various issues concerning sports and physical education activities in general, and the organization of Cameroon 2019 Total AFCON in our country in particular.

                 I want to seize this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a happy and prosperous new year.

                                Thank you for your kind attention!