Botswana’s bid was left hanging by a thread after partners in the joint bid, Namibia pulled out at the 11th hour. Namibia cited budgetary constraints after the facilities auditor indicated P4.2 billion was required from Botswana’s neighbour to upgrade infrastructure.
Botswana was expected to follow suit and pull out, but Rakgare told journalists in Gaborone on Wednesday that the bid was still very much alive. Rakgare is optimistic Botswana will land the rights to host the tournament. “We believe we stand as good a chance as any of the other bidders if not a better chance,” he said.
The facilities audit report carried out in March revealed that Botswana needed just over P4.628 billion for infrastructure development, including constructing a new stadium.
With the withdrawal of Namibia and Botswana going solo, the costs are expected to escalate although Rakgare refused to disclose figures. Rakgare indicated there were initial efforts to rope in Zambia in February for a three-nation bid, but that failed. “We didn’t manage because of issues known to the Zambian authorities.
Even after Namibia pulled out, we had a chat but unfortunately, nothing happened. We really wanted to do this, not just with Namibia but with other countries. Our reasons were very simple, that together we could have made a compelling bid and also lower the costs,” he said. He said after Namibia pulled out, there were efforts again to engage Zambia but nothing came out of it. “We had two options, either to proceed or pull out just like Namibia. A decision was taken to proceed without a co-hosting partner,” Rakgare said.
Namibia pulled out just two days before the CAF deadline for declaration of interest and Rakgare said the Botswana Football Association (BFA) was asked to submit the country’s intent to host. “A decision has since been taken by the government to proceed with the bid book,” the minister said. South African company, Ruben Reddy Architects, which carried out the facilities audit, has been tasked with putting together the bid book.
The deadline for the submission of the bid book is May 23. “Armed with the facilities audit report and the production of a bid book which is ongoing, Botswana should be ready to enter the race and focus on going all the way.
We can safely say we are in and in it to win,” he added. He, however, cautioned that consultations continue within government, especially with the Ministry of Finance to determine areas of budget reprioritisation to accommodate the bid and hosting of the tournament should Botswana become successful. Rakgare said quitting was never an option after Namibia indicated it was pulling out.
He said the amount required is only a fraction of the overall infrastructure costs. The other infrastructure is what the country already needs and AFCON will fast-track the process, he said.
Rakgare added that hosting the tournament will create an estimated 10,000 jobs in two years from the capital works that would have to be undertaken. “We are aware that there will be sustainable and future opportunities for communities in the maintenance and operation of stadia and other infrastructure,” Rakgare said.
* We are in it to win it-Rakgare * 'Quitting was never an option'
