12 Jun 2014

The local organising committee for Africa Cup division one rugby tournament, says despite myriad challenges, the country is ready to host the competition.

Addressing a press conference on June 11, Bob Lekan said Botswana National Sport Council (BNSC) was not supportive, adding that their hosting policy was selective.

BNSC hosting policy stipulated that in principle, hosting bids should be submitted four years in advance, and codes compelled to host through rotational systems by their international confederations should also declare their schedules for endorsement or otherwise with other applications, also no less than four years in advance. 

The policy further indicated that no bidding should be filed with any international confederation before being endorsed by the council.
Consequently, Lekan argued that other sporting codes had hosted international tournament without following these policy yet they were assisted.

The chairperson said Botswana Rugby Union had communicated to BNSC immediately after Botswana had been given the opportunity to stage the six nation tournament, but BNSC was not giving them enough support as expected.

In other issues, Lekan said team Botswana was ready for the tournament, given that they had played ample friendly games.

He said Morocco would not make it to the competition due to logistical issues, and they were since replaced by a South African team, Impala which he said was also a competitive team.

BRU, president Elijah Jones concurred with Lekan that as a host nation they had prepared well and their ultimate goal was to win the tournament.

Jones admitted that they were facing challenges of training ground and they will use any field in their disposal, so that all the visiting team are accorded the opportunity to train.

The tournament will start on June 15 with Impala facing Mauritius at 1230pm, the second game Botswana will battle it out with Swaziland, while Nigeria will take Zambia. All the games will be played at the National Stadium.

On Wednesday Nigeria will play against Swaziland at 1230pm followed by Zambia and Mauritius and the last game of the day will be Botswana and Impala. ENDS