19 Jan 2016

Some premier league clubs are likely to lose their home ground advantage should the stadium authorities fail to refurbish their facilities by August 1.

According to CAF clubs licensing regulations, some of the requirements are that the stadium must be equipped with first aid rooms to take care of spectators.

The stadium should also have a doping control room which must be near the teams and referees dressing rooms and inaccessible to the public and the media.

CAF further requires that a certified applicant must have a stadium available to host club competitions and should legally own a stadium or produce a written contract with the owner of the stadium. 

The contract should guarantee the use of the stadium for home matches in the coming season for which the club qualifies in sporting terms.

Botswana Premier League, chief executive officer, Bennett Mamelodi said currently only the national stadium, Lobatse, Francistown, Itekeng, and Molepolole are the only stadiums in that meets the CAF requirement.

He said based on the workshop that CAF recently held in Gaborone, in which clubs were told that the stadiums must be equipped with individual seats that must be fixed separated from each other and comfortable, it means Serowe, Maun, Jwaneng, and Selebi Phikwe and SSKB do not comply and would need some works to meet the CAF requirements.

“If you look at the Serowe Sports Complex it has potential but it is dilapidated, in a nutshell both Serowe and Maun sports complex should be in a similar state like Molepolole sports complex, they should also have functional offices and rooms,” he said.

Selebi-Phikwe Stadium would need a major facelift, adding they would also need to build a doping room, provide adequate seating for supporters. As for SSKB, Mamelodi said it would need some minimal work.

However, Sankoyo Bush Bucks public relations officer, Baganetsi Kamanakao said they were aware of some club licence requirements, adding that at the moment the most crucial thing was to meet with Botswana National Sport Commission to iron out some outstanding issues.

He said as Sankoyo their desire was to maintain Maun sports complex as their home ground given that they do not have any other option or alternative.

Jwaneng Galaxy public relations officer, Kealeboga Ramogobya said he was aware that Jwaneng Galaxy Stadium does not meet the requirement, adding that currently the country is on recession and the market was not doing well.

He said should the market improve, they were in a position to refurbish the stadium and make it one of the best in Botswana.

“Our intention is not to move from our stadium but what I can assure you is that we have plans and I’m not in a position to tell you when we are going to start renovating due to financial constraints,” he said.  Ends