Botswana should bid for AFCON 2017
Dennis Keagile | Friday September 5, 2014 12:25
The Phillip Makgalemele administration had shown interest in bidding for the tournament but there were those who accused him of not consulting key stakeholders.
I however still remained hopeful that Botswana would bid for the 2016 tournament. That was before the Confederation of African Football (CAF) changed the hosting of the biennial event from even to odd years. In 2016, Botswana turns 50 and President Ian Khama will be serving his last term.
Botswana is yet to host a big sporting event that involves all the major ministries of government and the private sector. This is an area where as a nation we are still untested.
Some of the countries that have hosted the Africa Cup of Nations do not have strong economies like Botswana. Now CAF has decided that Libya is unfit to host the 2017 event.
My plea to the BFA president, Tebogo Sebego is to convince his executive, the Botswana National Sports Council, Botswana National Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the government to bid for the 2017 tournament.
Hosting the event will help Botswana expand its sports infrastructure at a minimal cost. Botswana needs at least four stadiums that meet international standards and up until we bid or host a big tournament, this could take years to accomplish.
The benefit of hosting the 2017 AFCON would be massive. I understand that the BFA is a bit hesitant about the issue but there will never be a perfect time because what is perfect for football may not be perfect for the government.
I do think that unlike eight or so years ago, government would appreciate the position of the BFA. In 2006 the projected figure of hosting was P1 billion but I am of the view that this time, it may be less. In Francistown, the major challenge will be to upgrade the roads.
The benefits from an economic perspective look massive. And one might ask, what would be the benefit sporting wise. I honestly believe that football is on the verge of a major breakthrough but need a big push before this can happen.
That breakthrough can only be come if Botswana was to host such a major event. The BFA therefore need not hesitate or think twice but earnestly engage the BNSC and government and sent a letter of intent to CAF. Two years is enough to complete some of the renovations and fresh construction that would be required. The challenge however is to convince government or the minister concerned to accept and appreciate the magnitude of the tournament. We have seen from hosting the Africa Youth Games how much goodwill sport can bring.
As the national sport and a potential big employment creator, football deserves better than what it is getting now.
It is football that is played regularly throughout the year but the sport cannot boast of anything. It is football that politicians like to use to endear themselves to the masses because of its numbers, but little is delivered to it.
Not long ago, politicians were tearing each other apart on the FIFA directive regarding the constituency tournaments. Unfortunately, the politicians tried to score cheap political points than coming together to find a solution.
To date none has come forward with a suggestion to the BFA as to how to solve the problem. My plea therefore is to Khama to help influence cabinet to agree to fund the BFA bid for the 2017 AFCON.
This is the most opportune time for the BFA to bid looking at the challenges facing it both technically and otherwise.