SA expert likely to audit BONA 2027 facilities
Prominent South African football expert, Ian Riley is reportedly the frontrunner to win a tender to audit facilities for the Botswana-Namibia (BONA) 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) bid.
Riley was the tournament director for Afcon 2016 which South Africa hosted. He is a member of the CAF media committee, a FIFA marketing and development instructor.
He assisted South Africa to clinch the 2010 FIFA World Cup and he was the technical director for England’s 2018 FIFA World Cup bid. According to information reaching Mmegi Sport, the expert is close to being assigned the role to audit local facilities after a recommendation from one of the high-ranking officials within the bid committee.
The 2027 bid spokesperson, Tuelo Serufho told Mmegi Sport that the appointment of a company to undertake a facilities audit for the Botswana and Namibia bid for the 2027 Afcon is currently ongoing. He said the intention is to award the tender in the coming months.
“Noting that this is a fairly specialised field, procurement is targeted to a select number of consultants with requisite experience and qualifications, out of whom a winner shall be chosen,” Serufho said.
Minister Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture (MYSC), Tumiso Rakgare convened a meeting with the Bid Committee on Monday, where the appointment was discussed. MYSC Permanent Secretary
Kitso Kemoeng confirmed that the meeting took place but he was not at liberty to discuss its details. He said there is a structure that deals with the BONA 2027 afcon bid. Kemoeng assured all procurement and appointments, as long as he is the accounting officer in the ministry, will be done by the book.
“If (appointment) has to be reversed, it is going to be reversed by the authorities who created the law, not by me. That I want to assure you,” he said. – Mmegi Sport