Football safety can't be a game of chance

The Monitor Editor | Wednesday November 19, 2025 06:21

The scene was not one of celebration but of profound relief that a major tragedy was averted. The sight of a severely overcrowded venue, with fans spilling into standing areas before seated stands and precariously perched on corrugated iron rooftops, was a sorry and alarming spectacle. It was a stark warning that we are playing with fire, and the consequences of inaction are unthinkable. The ghost of Ellis Park Stadium looms large over such scenes. That disaster in South Africa is not a distant chapter from a foreign textbook; it is a heartbreaking lesson in the catastrophic failure of crowd management.

The images from last Friday suggest we are ignoring its lessons, risking a similar catastrophe on our own soil. To dismiss this as mere fan enthusiasm is a dangerous and irresponsible delusion. We must call this what it was: a systemic failure that could have ended in loss of life.

This near-miss must be the catalyst for immediate and decisive action from every stakeholder in Botswana football. The Botswana Football League (BFL) bears a paramount responsibility.

Its role must transcend fixture scheduling and league administration. The BFL must institute, audit, and ruthlessly enforce minimum safety standards at every venue across the country. This involves mandatory pre-match safety certifications, verified capacity controls, and clear protocols for denying entry once a venue is full.

To the clubs, including GU, your duty of care is non-negotiable. Your supporters are your greatest asset, and their safety must be your foremost priority.

Effective planning means implementing robust ticketing systems, ensuring secure and monitored entry and exit points, and deploying sufficient, well-trained stewards to manage the crowd. The objective is to create an environment where the excitement of the game is never compromised by the fear for personal safety.

Furthermore, the Botswana National Sport Commission, as the custodian of the nation’s premier sporting infrastructure, must act with renewed urgency.

The protracted unavailability of the National Stadium is not just an inconvenience, but it actively compounds the pressure on smaller, less-equipped venues. Expediting its repairs and ensuring it meets international safety benchmarks is a critical step in providing a safe outlet for major fixtures.

The beautiful game should create lasting, positive memories, not headlines of regret. Let us learn from this narrow escape. The safety of players, officials, and fans must be the priority: the final score that matters most.