Good luck Botswana on AFCON bid
Lwazi Dlamini | Saturday August 5, 2023 06:00
“There is always room in your life for thinking bigger, pushing limits, and imagining the impossible” is a quote from American author and philanthropist, Tony Robbins.
Robbins was not smoking his socks when he uttered these never-to-be-forgotten words which I verily believe must be the driving force behind Botswana’s bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027. The world’s largest producer of diamonds by value has a National Vision 2036 which is anchored on four pillars – Sustainable Economic Development, Human Social Development, Sustainable Environment, and Governance, Peace and Security. The theme ‘Prosperity for All’, it speaks about the need for Botswana to intentionally define and manage its path to ‘Prosperity for All’ as well as to adjust to the rapidly changing global economy and social order.
By 2036, Botswana wants to be a high-income country with an export-led economy underpinned by diversified, exclusive and sustainable growth driven by high levels of productivity. Hosting the continental showpiece is one of the projects that not only the Botswana Football Association (BFA) but government sees as an opportunity to realise the vision they set in 2017.
Through hosting the AFCON jamboree, government sees this as part of national development as it will not only improve the infrastructure by building new stadiums and upgrading the existing ones but also create jobs in the tourism and hospitality sectors. It is the government’s will, in particular President Mokgweetsi Masisi’s commitment to growing the sports industry which ticks all the boxes for me. While we have a lackadaisical attitude towards sports in Eswatini with our Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg boldly stating that sport does not contribute anything to the economic fiscus, Botswana’s government is fully behind the AFCON 2027 bid because they see sports as a career option and also want to tap into the sports tourism arena. They are thinking big.
They are pushing the limits and imagining the impossible as American author, Robbins nicely put it.
The commitment by government is reflected in the willingness to channel a sum of $743 million (about E14.1 billion) towards the refurbishment of existing and construction of new stadiums.
The Botswana government intends to build three new stadiums, Motlhaba in Gabane, Letswai in Maun, and Tlatlana in Kasane between 2024 and 2026. Motlhaba and Letswai will have a capacity of 40,000, making them the biggest facilities in Botswana. Of course, these projects will help create new jobs in the construction industry with the tournament itself used as a catalyst for economic development. The Botswana government also sees this as an opportunity to enhance community development with the local businesses being upskilled to benefit from the hosting of Africa’s premier competition. Clearly, this is not just football related but an event that touches on every aspect of the National Development Plan of the country. Botswana will be competing with the trio bid of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania as well as solo bids from Egypt and Algeria.
This grandson of Mlonyeni is praying to the Mighty God and all the ancestors lying in the rolling hills of Khalangilile that Botswana gets to win the bid for many reasons. Besides being part of BOLESWA (Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini), the Batswana are in the Southern tip of Africa, and it is shameful that only two countries from this part of the continent have hosted the AFCON – Angola and South Africa. I was following the live press conference on Wednesday with keen interest after the CAF team visited Botswana this week to inspect the facilities before the announcement of the bid winners for 2025 and 2027 sometime next month. I was impressed with how my long-time friend and chairperson of the Botswana bid, Ashford Mamelodi outlined why Botswana deserves to host the continental showpiece. Say your say, Mr Mamelodi.
“The biggest selling point is in the bid book. It talks about the stability of our government and tourism. All we are saying is that Botswana is ready. Government has taken a very important position to say “let’s go with this’. It’s Botswana’s time. If we don’t do it now, then when?”
Mamelodi’s confidence and belief in his own country delivering a world-class event is underpinned by his remark that even if they win the 2027 AFCON bid, they would also like to host it again before 2036 as this is not just about football but part of the National Development Strategy. This was evident from the word go. Botswana had initially made a dual bid with Western neighbours, Namibia in what was called ‘BONA 2027’ but the Namibian government pulled out in April this year citing lack of funds, leaving ‘Botswana 2027’ on a solo run.
Whereas many countries would have been dejected and probably pulled out too, given the cost implications, Botswana did not. They looked at the bigger picture. They believe in their own Vision 2036 as a country and understand the benefits of hosting such a tournament are massive and might not be immediate. The motivating influence is found in their bid slogan – ‘Achieving Prosperity: One Goal at a Time’. I remember vividly how exciting it was for Eswatini to host the COSAFA Under-20 tournament last year in October in which Africa’s Leading Integrated Business Partner, Inyatsi Group Holdings, pumped in E2 million.
It was a small but important step which we ought to have built on if we had football leaders who can think outside the box and who understand sports tourism.
I would be glad, if not overtly proud if Botswana would win the AFCON 2027 bid because it would be a perfect case study for our government to realise sports is a multi-billion industry if you invest and understand its power. It would help change the notion that sports in this country are just ‘play’ or a pastime. Other countries have used the power of sports to change many lives and boost their economic fiscus. Botswana is on the right path with government leading the way by fully supporting the bid. For a country that lasted hosted a big event in 1997 when it hosted the CAF Under-17 Youth Championships (which we also hosted in 2003), bringing the AFCON jamboree to a diamond-rich country would be a masterstroke.
Clearly, Batswana are seeking to position themselves as the host capital of mega-events as well as a tourism destination of choice. For a whole month during the AFCON, the eyes of the entire continent and the world will be fixated on Botswana for all the good reason. According to the CAF website, the last AFCON was watched in over 150 countries across the world. Aside from Africa, channels such as beIN Sports broadcast it in its channels in the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region, and North America, including the United States and as far afield as Cambodia and Laos.
In Cameroon, the direct expenditure from supporters and tourists was estimated to have been more than $200 million (about E3.8 billion). For us, Eswatini, all these figures coming from a sporting event will remain a dream because our government does not have the will and vision to see sports as an important sector and for our football leadership, this is beyond their intellectual grasp. The football leadership is only happy to pose for pictures in E20,000 sponsorship events. They are thinking small. Botswana is thinking big, pushing the limits and imagining the impossible.
Nobody could have put Botswana’s 2027 AFCON bid in alluring clarity than the Sports minister, Tumiso Rakgare in an article ran by Mmegi, the country’s weekly newspaper.
“AFCON 2027 will showcase the best of Botswana while promoting national integration and will lead to cultural, social, and sporting diversity. It will result in economic growth and social development and leave a lasting legacy for our people and country including an empowered youth,” he said.
Go for it Botswana! Yes, as the AFCON 2027 bid slogan goes – Achieving Prosperity – One Goal at a Time!
(Send your comments to: lwazid@rubiconmedia.group or lwazid005@gmail.com)