Botswana National Sport Commission Chief Executive Officer ( BNSC CEO), Tuelo Serufho says Obed Itani Chulume has been approved to host the Zebras VS Equatorial Guinea African Cup of Nations ( AFCON) qualifiers on the 28th of March 2023. This comes after the facility failed a CAF inspection to determine its suitability to host international matches.

Speaking at a media briefing in Gaborone earlier this week, Serufho said he can confidently confirm that Obed Itani Chilume stadium has passed Confederation of African Football ( CAF) requirements and the facility is in good condition. “After failing the first inspection, CAF advised BNSC to consider initiating the renovations work at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium to ensure that the stadium is approved in time for the next AFCON qualifier window and then we immediately began to attend areas of concern,” he said.

Serufho said that they came with the renovation programme and purchased all required equipment for the stadium, so that CAF can in due course permanently approve the venue, saying that the most important thing was the spongy pitch and the light lux; they managed to cut to the required grass level of between 20mm to 30mm and still maintained the greenish colour, managed to increase to 1500 lux while CAF requirements is 1200 lux. “We have purchased new goal posts as spares which we are expecting on Friday, new benches which meets CAF standards, renovated the doping room and we have also brought massage beds, and some medical requirements,” he added. On the other facilities, Serufho said that even though the National Stadium does not meet CAF requirements yet, it will be ready to host First National Bank Botswana FNBB Golden Grand Prix as planned on the 29th of April and they confirm that the stadium readiness will be enough to sell Botswana. “The commission has engaged a company that will do the parching and marking of the track and the intention is to have this work done by mid- April 2023,” He noted.

Furthermore, he added that the commission has been engaged in consultations with key stake holders with the aim to start implementation of National sports development programme which entails the establishment of the development centres and the national games for the seven selected sports codes across the sixteen districts. “So far, we have consulted with the districts and they have all committed to participate in the programme and we have started with the appointment of district and national coordinators as well as the distribution of equipment to various districts before the end March 2023.”