23 Nov 2022

Four Botswana athletes have been appointed as BONA 2027 ambassadors.

BONA 2027 is a committee working on Botswana and Namibia joint bid for the AFCON 2027.

The quartet is senior national women football team captain, Bonang Otlhagile and former national women team player, Kefilwe Modisaotsile and former men national football team players; Jerome Ramatlhakwana and Diphetogo Selolwane.

They were announced during a recent press conference in Namibia.

From the Namibian side, there will be Brave Gladiators’ player, Lovisa Mulunga, national hockey captain, Magreth Mengo, former Brave Warriors captain, Ronald Ketjirere and former Brave Warriors head coach, Ricardo Manetti.

BONA 2027 chairperson, Ashford Mamelodi, said in an interview that the ambassadors would promote the bid at selected events in conjunction with committee members.

Talking about the criterion used to select the ambassadors, he said Botswana Football Association and Namibia Football Association were requested to recommend to BONA 2027 current and former players who could be appointed.

Furthermore, he said it was also planned that they would undergo a one-day training together so that their roles could be fully explained.

In other issues, Mamelodi said they held a successful meeting in Namibia where decisions were made, amongst them, to update stakeholders.

He said Botswana also informed the meeting that it had already visited Civil Aviation of Botswana and Department of Broadcasting Services to map way forward.

He said BONA 2027 secretary, Tuelo Serufho, reported that the evaluating committee had recommended a company to undertake facilities audit. 

“But the information will be shared with both ministries before the announcement is made,” he said.

According to Mamelodi, BONA 2027 would soon announce a lobby strategy and competitions between the two countries after presentation of drafts.

He said BONA 2027 had also launched a promotional clip, which would be shared with both Botswana Television and Namibia Broadcasting Corporation.  ENDS