Anxious wait for CAF stadium report
Chakalisa Dube | Saturday February 18, 2023 06:00
The Zebras are due to play Equatorial Guinea in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on March 26. The Obed Itani Chilume Stadium has been registered as the facility that will host the match.
However, the facility recently failed a CAF inspection to determine its suitability to host international matches. The continent's soccer governing body recommended that the stadium required an upgrade to be certified to host Category Three and Four matches. Immediately after the CAF inspection, the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) began attending to the areas of concern in the stadium.
The BFA was requested to submit a report about what is being done to ensure that the stadium meets the requirements to host the match. The BFA was given a February 10, 2023, deadline by CAF. “We have since met the CAF deadline.
The BNSC gave us a report on the status of the upgrades that are ongoing at the stadium and we shared it with CAF last week. I cannot talk about the status of the upgrades because the facility is owned by the BNSC.
We are waiting for a determination by CAF,” BFA CEO Mfolo Mfolo said yesterday. “I am, however, optimistic that CAF will give us a very positive response based on the report we gave them,” Mfolo added. Mmegi Sport has established that the BFA has assured CAF the stadium will be ready to host the Zebras match next month. BNSC CEO Tuelo Serufho told Mmegi Sport that the upgrades at Obed Itani Stadium will be completed before the end of the month. “A lot of ground has been covered in terms of upgrading the facilities.
We are only left with minor works. By March, the stadium will be ready to host Category Three CAF matches. We have shared a full report on the status of the upgrades with the BFA,” Serufho said.
The upgrades proposed by CAF feature the installation of high-speed internet, procurement of key medical equipment such as ventilators, suction machines, and defibrillators and improving the floodlights. The procurement of new modern team benches, setting up spectator first aid cabins and anti-doping facilities from the medical area as well as improvement on stadium signage are some of the upgrades CAF recommended.