21 Mar 2023

Obed Itani Chilume Stadium is ready to host an AFCON qualifier clash between Botswana and Equatorial Guinea on March 28.

After failing CAF inspection to host category three and four games, Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) worked hard to take the stadium to the required CAF standard. BNSC chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufo, said in an interview that they had done all the remedial works as required by CAF for Botswana to host category three games.

He said some of the requirements were that the stadium must have a designated area in the parking where the media could park, and were also required to put signage guiding spectators.

CAF had instructed that the stadium should also have a dedicated media area, adding that the sadium now had a world class media area. Furthermore, he said the press conference room had to be moved to VIP area.

Serufho said CAF wanted spare goal posts and lights repaired, given that at the time of inspection lights used were 450 lux of lights, whilst requirements wanted 1200 lux.

“I can confirm that we have done everything at Obed Itani Stadium and our lights are more than 1200 lux, we are at 1500 lux,” he said.

He said one of the burning issues was that the stadium’s lawn during inspection was trimmed more than 30 centimetres.

To CAF requirements, the lawn should be trimmed between 20-30 centimeters. He said in the process to meet standard, they got challenged by the lawn changing colour, hence applying a treatment programme to the lawn.

“Hence temporarily closing the stadium, which is Eleven Angels home-ground,” he said.

He expressed delight for meeting the category three standard, adding that they were now working around the clock on attaining category four requirements. ENDS