Ugandan businessmen around the Mandela Stadium, Namboole (Kirinya village) are slowly adjusting and expanding in anticipation of next year’s African Nations Championships (CHAN). Kenya alongside Uganda and Tanzania will jointly host the delayed 2024 CHAN Championships between Thursday 1 to Friday 28 February next year. The three countries are also gearing up for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals after winning the bid to stage the biannual tournament last year.Fans react to Harambee Stars’ goalless draw against ZimbabweBusinessmen around the facility are not leaving anything to chance given the anticipated influx of sports tourists and domestic football enthusiasts to the village during the tournament. The management of the Daks Hotel located less than a kilometre from the stadium is mulling at expanding and improving on areas which will guarantee clients more comfort. Manager Keren Kadodo says the recommendations from Kenyans and other visitors in the past three days will be worked on before the year ends. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8318187##”We are aware of next year’s football tournament and the 2027 AFCON. We are likely to expand and add features which will make our clients more comfortable,” she said. The renovation of the stadium and its subsequent opening is a timely boost to the business which encountered challenges when it was declared unfit to host matches. “We are happy that the stadium was reopened. We felt the difference when it was shut for renovations but we are glad to serve fans again,” she added.Six lessons learned from Harambee Stars drab draw against ZimbabweSophie Nabagunga, an assistant manager at the New Trevor Restaurant says there are plans to introduce a variety of new dishes to meet customer demands during the tournament. “We are ready to serve the new clients we anticipate to host during local football matches and the big tournaments. We understand the need to have a variety of dishes even as we strive to make the local ones more palatable,” she said. John Kawoya, a taxi operator cannot wait to pick up and drop passengers from the Entebbe International Airport and tour them around the country. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8318215##Kawoya, who has been in the taxi business for almost 20 years revealed his ambition of buying a new car and handing it over to a friend as one of the ways of expanding his business. “I have been on the Ugandan roads for more than 18 years. I am ready to do what I do best in the forthcoming football tournaments. Business is always good when there are big matches in Uganda,” said Kawoya, an Express FC fan.
