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The Botswana and Namibia (BONA 2027) secretariat was this week in Maun for a two-day assessment of sports and accommodation facilities as part of its bid to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The team was accompanied by a consultancy company, Ruben Reddy from South Africa which has been engaged for the exercise which is ongoing countrywide. The Consultant will proceed to tour Namibian facilities once the exercise is complete in Botswana.
The team commenced the stage of the facilities audit on January 31st with Gaborone and Lobatse being the first batch followed by Francistown on the 6-7th February and then Maun.
The adequacy of hotel accommodation in Maun as the centre of tourism for Botswana has triggered the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Bid Committee to consider hosting the final games of the tournament in the area should the bid succeed.
Head of Secretariat Geoffrey Gare told Times Sport that the facility audit is vital for them to be able to meet Confederations of African Football (CAF) new stadia regulations and rules that will be necessary for BONA 2027 to qualify for hosting the showpiece.
Gare further explained that hosting AFCON 2027 will not only focus on stadia that meet the required standards but also make sure that all the locations in Botswana hosting the games are accessible, thus engaging all stakeholders that need to contribute to the project since it will be a national event.
He added that the hotels and health facilities in Maun, Francistown, Lobatse and Gaborone will have to upgrade their ratings and provide quality service to promote Botswana and Namibia as a destination of meetings, investments, conferences and exhibitions.
He further noted that winning and hosting a tournament of such a magnitude will need both countries to pass the audit assessment and if not then they will have to build infrastructure that meet CAF’s new stadia regulations and other requirements for hosting. He highlighted that building stadia that can accommodate more than 40 000 fans will be an accomplishment that will benefit Botswana as a lasting legacy in infrastructure.
Gare urged Batswana to be supportive and confident about co-hosting the AFCON 2027 tournament since it will leave a lasting legacy that will benefit the country going forward. He highlighted that if Botswana and Namibia were to win the bid to host; both countries will spend a lot of capital on preparations but will gain greater return on investment.
He also mentioned that the event will give Botswana’s tourism sector exposure and attract tourists. He stated that building new stadia and renovating the current ones will give Botswana an opportunity to host regional football tournaments and local athletes will have training facilities of an exceptional standard.
Such development will enhance the phase of football development in the two countries and ensure that sport benefits from the improved infrastructure for other sport bodies to successfully bid in future.
