31 Jan 2023

Three experts from Rueben Reddy Architects (RRA) arrived in Botswana yesterday to kick-start the facilities audit.

Rueben Reddy has been awarded a contract to undertake the facilities audit in both Namibia and Botswana for the Botswana-Namibia (BONA) 2027 AFCON bid.

BONA 2027 committee (BidCo) chairperson, Ashford Mamelodi, said in an interview that the experts had been joined by two members of BidCo Geoffrey Gare, who is head of secretariat and Botswana Football Association chief executive officer, Mfolo Mfolo.

Mamelodi said some experts from the department of works would accompany the team as observers, and would work with the RRA to ensure knowledge transfer.

He said during the two-day assignment, the team was expected to undertake facilities audits for the southern part of Botswana including the National Stadium in Gaborone, Lobatse Stadium and a proposed sight at Boatle.

Mamelodi said the auditors would be met by facility managers, except at Boatle, where they would meet physical planners from the South East District Council.

Furthermore, he said the auditors would also be expected to visit all proposed training fields, whether they existed or had been identified for them to report on suitability or otherwise thereof.

“After two days on this leg, the team will return to Johannesburg, before they plan for Maun and Kasane as their next destination, and before they round up their assignment with a short visit to Francistown,” he said.

He said BidCo had also arranged for the auditors to engage important stakeholders such as Botswana Tourism Organisation to be appraised on all hotels in the proposed venues.

The team, he said would also engage with Civil Aviation Authority Botswana for a full brief on the accreditation of all airports at host venues.

Furthermore, Mamelodi said in line with the MoA, Botswana is expected to provide five host venues, against Namibia’s three.

He said should BONA 2027 get the nod, Namibia would host the opening game in Windhoek and Botswana the final game in Gaborone.

Mamelodi said the plan was that the facilities audit should in both Botswana and Namibia be completed in six weeks. ENDS