By ANDREW PHIRI –

THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) inspectors yesterday wrapped up their week-long tour of duty in Zambia and expressed satisfaction with some of the facilities proposed for use if the nation wins the bid to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Zambia, the last country to be inspected by the CAF team, is engaged in a fierce battle for the 2019 AFCON bid against Algeria, Cameroon, Guinea and Ivory Coast.
During their final inspections in Livingstone yesterday, the CAF inspection team expressed happiness with the health and other facilities in Zambia’s tourist capital.
The CAF inspectors said even if it was not in their mandate to give out their findings so far, they were impressed with the facilities at Livingstone General Hospital, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport and the proposed site for the construction of a
modern stadium.
CAF delegation leader, Amadou Diakite said his team were just inspectors who would write a report and necessary recommendations to the CAF board which will issue a comprehensive report of their findings.
“We are just an inspection team and for us our job is only to see what facilities you have and what state they are in. We are going to give our recommendations to CAF who will be able to give you a comprehensive report,” Diakite said.
He, however, said he was impressed with the standards at the Livingstone General Hospital and the available infrastructure.
“I am impressed with the hospital and the technical infrastructure available. I urge and pray that the facilities should be kept at this high standards and quality maintenance all the time,’’ Diakite said.
Livingstone General Hospital medical superintendent, Namani Monze said the health institution was equipped with latest state-of-the-art equipment and that it had a total of 42 specialised doctors.
Monze said the hospital, which was rated as a second level facility, had three ambulances which were able to respond to any emergencies and that they also had golf cart ambulances to ferry patients within the hospital grounds.
Sports Permanent Secretary, Agnes Musunga said the construction of a new stadium in Livingstone would start next year.
Musunga told the CAF delegation,  flanked by FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya, that the procurement process for the proposed 30,000-capacity stadium was underway and that construction would works would start in 2015.
She said both local and international contractors would be allowed to bid and that once started, construction was expected to take one and a half years to complete.