12 Jun 2023

Hosting AFCON 2027 can benefit all sectors as well as create employment.

Minister of Youth, Gender, Sports and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare, said in an interview that Botswana had submitted a bid book to CAF.

It illustrates what the country will do should it be given an opportunity to host.

“In our bid, we have also demonstrated as to what differentiate us from other countries. We have also indicated as to where we are in preparations,” he said.

On stadia, Rakgare said Gaborone, Lobatse and Francistown could host AFCON games after some minor stadium upgrading.

He noted that three additional stadia would be built should Botswana be given the right to host.

“All the stadiums are illustrated in the bid book and they show our cultural heritage and national beauty,” he said.

Rakgare said hosting AFCON also meant the country should have good ICT and internet access and further added that Botswana was one of the countries that was doing well in that area.

The minister said given the rights to host would also require improved roads and transportation that would be used by visitors to attend games and visit other areas.

“Our visitors will be here for a month and we need to prepare our hotels and yes, we do have enough hotels to host,” he said.

Furthermore, Rakgare said Botswana was ready and waiting for CAF inspection team and those who would be voting.

He said Egypt had since pulled out of the race and the remaining countries were Algeria and a joint bid by eastern countries Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

“We want to see Batswana happy and hosting will mean creating more jobs as construction work commences. About 10 000 jobs will be created and by 2027 and that alone means 52 000 people would be employed. And during the tournament also different sectors stand to benefit,” he said.

He said Batswana would also take part in improving the country’s economy, noting that ‘if the Lobatse stadium is to be selected to host, people can make money by turning in their residences for rentals for that month’, he said. ENDS