08 Aug 2023

 Names of stadia as used in the AFCON 2027 bid book are for convenience of the report and presentation, according to the bid committee chairperson, Ashford Mamelodi

Therefore, Mamelodi said, the stadia naming process will follow, should Botswana win the rights to host AFCON 2027. 

If the country wins the bid, government will then embark on new stadia construction.

Mamelodi made the explanation after it surfaced that some members of the public were questioning names of stadia to be built in Kasane, Maun and Greater Gaborone.

In the bid book, Kasane stadium is named Tlatlana, Greater Gaborone Motlhaba while Maun Stadium is named Letswai.

“Those are not real names. They were only for the convenience of the report,  so government will name the stadia as it normally happens in new facilities, “he said.

Furthermore, he said the names; Letswai, Tlatlana and Motlhaba were derived from the country’s natural resources and products.

According to the bid book, the envisaged Motlhaba Stadium will take on a more organic form, blending symphoniously with the natural world.

The stunning arena, inspired by the local rock formations, will employ the rugged beauty of the surrounding area, with a façade symbolising linear furrows generated from fault movements.

Tlatlana will be located next to Chobe River near the Botswana and Namibia border opposite vast wilderness areas, which are home to a large population of wildlife.

The bid book states that Botswana’s basket weaving tradition has become a symbol of the country’s cultural heritage and identity dating back centuries, representing Botswana people’s skill, creativity and dedication to craft passed from generation to generation.

Letswai will offer a world–class stage for football in Maun, located in the northern part of Botswana near the southern border of the Okavango Delta. The delta is home to diverse wildlife, including elephants, lions, hippos, crocodiles and a variety of bird species. ENDS