As participating nations begin to arrive for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), last-minute preparations are in high gear as various service providers get ready to complement the tournament with the liveliness it deserves by having their services at the disposal of fans and delegates. 

With about 1,000 delegates (excluding fans and officials) expected from participating countries, the three regions hosting the tournament’s group fixtures are set to be a hive of activity beginning Saturday, with private sector operators cashing in heavily.

According to officials from the Ministry of Sports and Culture, the government and the organising committee has been working closely with private business enterprises involved with the CHAN tourney.

The interactions between the service providers and the organisers involved presenting opportunities available and facilitating them to mprove their services to expected standards.

Edward Kalisa, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Sports and Culture, told The New Times that they have held several meetings with service providers involved in various aspects of the tournament and confirmed that all systems were set.

Among the service providers involved in the preparations are ticket vendors in various locations across the country, who were announced yesterday by the organisers.

According to Kalisa, an electronic system had been tested severally to ensure that fans were protected from fake tickets.

"The electronic system we are using has been tested many times; it is, therefore, not easy to forge the tickets. We have also put in place measures and mechanisms to re-check and monitor to ensure that there is no foul play of any kind,” Kalisa said.

Other service providers expected to cash-in during the championship are hoteliers who will host players, officials and accompanying fans.

Vedaste Kayiranga, an official in the local organising committee in charge of accommodation of members of various delegations, said preparations began as early as May last year.

Hotels ready

Officials, including those from Confederation of African Football, visited hotel establishments in Kigali, Huye and Rubavu to assess their readiness.

"The hotels were chosen before the draw in November after which they were informed. Rwanda Development Board officials visited the hotels asking them to make necessary arrangements to be ready for January,” Kayiranga said.

Officials at Gorillas Hotels, one of the establishments set to host players taking part in the tournament, said they were ready for the tournament.

Ann Kalembe, the head of sales and marketing at Gorillas Hotels, told The New Times that they had installed fast Internet and recruited more bilingual staff for the convenience of clients.

"There has always been a challenge of internet speed not only at our hotel but in the whole industry. We have worked on improving both speed and coverage. Secondly, our service levels have been improved with more staff capable of speaking several languages being deployed to cater for the needs of our guests,” Kalembe said.

In spite of the early call for preparations, one hotel that was set to host players was on Monday caught off guard and closed down for not meeting required standards.

Stipp Hotels Rubavu, a member of the Stipp Hotels Rwanda chain, was temporarily closed on Monday morning for failing to meet required hygienic standards.

However, a spot check by The New Times across various establishments in the city, yesterday, showed that the tournament ‘fever’ is yet to be visible.

Loud banners and tournament themed merchandise are yet to be displayed in the various establishments.

In preparation for the tournament, Rwanda has made efforts to improve the accessibility of the country.

Last week, government announced that there will be no visa fees paid by delegates and fans from the 15 African countries whose teams will be participating in the Championship.

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