Phikwe To Become Home For Junior National Teams
Chakalisa Dube | Monday December 13, 2021 16:00
“We have opened talks with the Botswana Football Association (BFA) senior officials with a view of convincing them to turn Selebi Phikwe into a home for all junior national teams. The intention is to have most junior national team activities or matches held in Selebi Phikwe,” the town mayor Lucas Modimana said in an interview with Sport Monitor.
He added, “We believe turning the town into a home for junior national teams is among the many activities that can make the town livelier. The talks are at very preliminary stage, but we are very optimistic that they will end with a conclusive agreement.” Modimana also said a few years ago the then Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Thapelo Olopeng declared Obed Itani Chilume Sports Complex in Francistown, 'The Home of Zebras.’ He said the move worked wonders as staging more national team matches in the city improve its vibrancy. Olopeng declared that the stadium will be the official home of the Zebras because the team receives overwhelming support when it plays in Francistown.
Many high-profile cup soccer matches have also been staged in Francistown and fans have often responded by coming in large numbers. “We were inspired to approach the BFA President after we realised that turning Francistown the home of the Zebras made the city more vibrant. Soccer enjoys a huge following and I have no doubt that bringing junior teams here, more often can bring life to town.” Modimana said the intention is to upgrade the Selebi-Phikwe stadium and bring it to a level where it can host junior national team activities. The stadium is currently under utilised because the town does not have elite league teams.
The town does hosts the Selebi-Phikwe extravaganza and a marathon annually as part of improving its liveliness. The two activities have however been less bubbly as compared to a time when the BCL mine was the main economic driver of town. In 2019 Toyota 1000 Desert race was moved to Phikwe but last years and this year’s events were not held due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.