03 Jul 2023

Councillors in Lobatse have unanimously endorsed Botswana’s bid to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament and for some of the matches to be played in Lobatse.

They expressed their support after Botswana 2027 Africa Cup of Nations bid technical committee chairperson, Ashford Mamelodi’s address during a full council meeting recently.

Woodhall Ward councillor, Thebe Baile said hosting of AFCON matches would help to necessitate infrastructure developments such as top class health facilities, hotel accommodation and entertainment places that would cater for high volume of visitors during the tournament. He said that would result in a facelift of the town.

Baile further said hosting the tournament would help to expose the beautiful cultural heritage sites found around Lobatse to different fans coming to watch the games. He said that would help to promote the tourism potential of the town on the continent.

Maokaneng Ward councillor, Tiny Dinoko said the community of Lobatse was excited about the prospect of hosting some of the 2027 AFCON matches if Botswana won the bid.

“We promise that we would publicise the bid to the community of Lobatse and ask for their support.

However, the bid committee should also carry out some activations and solicit support from the parastatals and companies around Lobatse,” she said.

Dinoko however expressed concern that the facilities audit indicated that almost all stadiums in Botswana were not compliant to requirements of the Confederation of African Football.

She advised that every stadium constructed should be made compliant going forward.

She however expressed concern that lack of a good hospital could disadvantage Lobatse.

“The standard of Athlone Hospital could work against us. The bid committee should engage the Ministry of Health about refurbishing Athlone Hospital,” she said.

Tsopeng South councillor, Agnes Moabi expressed support for the bid but was also concerned about the state of Athlone Hospital.

Botoka Ward councillor, Tshwanelo Yane asked for setting up of an interim committee containing the leadership, artists, businesses and other stakeholders to brand the town and assist to make the country’s bid attractive to the rest of the continent.

In his remarks to the full council, Mamelodi pointed out that hosting AFCON would push Botswana to construct world class stadiums.

He said the Lobatse Sports Complex would be refurbished and turned into a world class stadium capable of hosting top class international matches.

He added that new stadiums would be constructed in Maun, Kasane and the greater Gaborone region.

“We are still involved in the battle to sell our bid to CAF leaders to give us a chance to host the tournament,” he said.

He said Botswana was up against Algeria, as well as Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, which had put in a joint bid. ENDS