Netball renovations start ahead of Youth Games
Mosah Mokganedi | Thursday April 3, 2014 10:28
Local contractor, Barrets Courts started work on the courts yesterday with the refurbishment expected to last two weeks. The contractor’s quantity surveyor, Simba Makwada said although they have started work, some of the materials have not arrived from South Africa. The materials were expected to be delivered yesterday.
The work at the netball courts mainly involves the re-laying of the pitch. Makwada said their main challenge in finishing the work on time could be the delay in the arrival of material and the rains.
His company has also been contracted do refurbish Notwane Tennis Courts for the Youth Games. Makwada said they have ordered material for the works at the tennis courts and hopefully it will arrive in a fortnight. The tennis courts’ refurbishment is expected to be complete at the beginning of May. “We have asked the supplier to speed up the delivery process so that we can beat the deadline,” Simba said.
Botswana Africa Youth Games (BAYGOC) chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho said four other venues would be renovated soon as they do not require major works.
The venues are the Gaborone Dam which requires a ramp, the UB swimming pool and the Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) basketball court and the indoor hall. Serufho said they have ordered heat and timing devices for the University of Botswana (UB) swimming pool while a mobile basketball court is on the way. He was confident that all the renovations would be complete before the games kick-off on May 22. “There could be few hiccups but at this point, we have not panicked, we are confidant we will deliver in time,” he said. A total of 16 venues will be used for the games. Half of the venues are undergoing renovations while the rest are in usable condition.
About 2,500 athletes from 54 African countries will descend on Gaborone from May 22 for the 10-day games. The competition, the biggest ever Botswana has hosted will be held under the theme ‘Unleashing African Stars’.