FIFA Forward Program has allocated P14 million to the Botswana Football Association (BFA) for the construction of the Kazungula Stadium which is expected to commence this year.
This was revealed by BFA Vice President Maokaneng Bontshetse in an interview with Times Sport this week. According to Bontshetse the project was supposed to commence before end of last year but it faced delays due to technical challenges.
He revealed that this was due to the advice they got from the consultants who advised that the soil at the construction site was sandy therefore would not withstand the structure of the stadium.
Bontshetse noted that they have engaged the experts who gave them recommendations on how best they can prepare the construction site. He has assured that the project will commence this year, indicating that its survey and the paperwork have all long been completed.
Bontshetse had previously stated that other than BFA’s Lekidi Centre, the Kazungula Stadium will be the second state-of-the-art facility that would mark a greater milestone by the association in its efforts to develop football. He further stated that besides those projects FIFA has approved construction of other stadiums which will be built in Shakawe and Mahalapye.
“We are trying by all means to build such projects where there is shortage of facilities, that is the case in Kasane/Kazungula where many teams play games at Kasane Prisons grounds,” he said.
BFA CEO Mfolo Mfolo had expressed that through the Kazungula Stadium they intend to take quality football to communities and nurture its development. He had stated that they will have a technical centre in the region that will be able to organise four nations’ tournaments with neighbouring countries that will bring activity evolution within the Chobe communities.
Chobe Regional Football Association (CHORFA) Chairman Tshegofatso Balisi had told this publication that they have long requested and awaited the stadium project from BFA. He had stated that the project is a welcome development as it would address shortage of suitable grounds in their region.
Balisi lamented that with the current football grounds that are available in their region are not of the required standards, adding that teams were unable to play during the rainy seasons and that they are forced to play games during the day while temperatures are very high because there are no lights. He noted that the stadium will address these challenges as it would have some lights and turf.
