Speaking during the official opening of the P5 million-FIFA funded Lekidi football centre in Gaborone on Saturday, Hammam said: “Though we’ve so many programmes to assist the national associations, there is still a problem of misuse of grants. I’m glad the Botswana Football Association (BFA) is using this properly and are keeping records.”
Hammam said that the generosity that Botswana government showed by allocating land for the project is laudable. The government is also said to have contributed $400,000 for the building of the centre. “Hopefully, the Goal Project 2 will find its way to Botswana, encouraged by the generosity that your government showed,” said Hammam.
The FIFA official told BFA that the centre will not last without proper maintenance. He said FIFA president Sepp Blatter would have loved to be part of the celebrations but could not make it due to other commitments.
Vice President Ian Khama said that it is a show of confidence for FIFA to make this kind of investment in the country. “To be one of the four countries in all Africa as a host of Goal offices and the one of only twelve around the world places us among the fortunate few,” he said. Khama, the patron of the BFA urged the sporting fraternity to make full use of the Goal Project. He said he is happy that FIFA seeks to level the ground when it comes to its affiliates especially when most of the Third World countries are faced with poverty and disease. “We’re looking forward to the Goal 2 especially with the recent improvement of the Zebras.” He said he appreciated the patriotism shown during the national team games but he is worried about the thuggish behaviour of some fans. “We’ve some incidents of bad behaviour and surely this goes against our character as a people and teachings of sport.” He said he is mobilising support for the Zebras.
Khama gave recognition to Ashford Mamelodi and Ismael Bhamjee who form part of the FIFA international team of ‘soldiers.’ He said the duo make Botswana proud as their FIFA position are proof of the country’s stature in international football.
BFA president, Phillip Dikgang Makgalemele asserted that the centre would enable his organisation to produce future stars. “Lekidi will continue to save costs to the association like in terms of camping.”
The BFA president said that football in the country is continuing to improve as shown by the performance of national champions BDF XI, who recently became the first local club to beat an Angolan team. “Since moving into this place, we wiped off the whipping boys of Africa title and today if we lose, we lose on merit,” he said.
He paid tribute to the former national executive committee led by David Fani who he said did a good job in seeing that the Lekidi project gets off the ground. “You did a great job guys,” he said.
