Let's go for it!
Mmegi Editor | Wednesday September 24, 2014 14:45
Besides the financial value associated with the tournament, AFCON is the premier international association competition in Africa, the winners of which are rewarded with enduring continent-wide prestige.
In an effort to bring the 2017 edition of the tournament to Southern Africa, Zimbabwe had hoped a ‘co-host’ approach would prise AFCON away from the dominance of the east, west and northern African states.
Since its establishment in 1957, AFCON has only ever been hosted in our region thrice and on two of those occasions by South Africa. The benefits to the development of football and the near immeasurable direct and indirect commercial windfalls to both our economies, mean a bid to host the 2017 AFCON should be a matter of urgency for our sporting administrators.
From travel, tourism and other sectors of the hospitality sector to associated services such as retail and security, hosting AFCON would bring a lasting economic windfall to both our economies, over and above the boost to our football development. According to the Confederation of African Football, Botswana satisfies nearly all of the requirements to host AFCON, with the only exception being one more major stadium, although an upgrade prior to 2017 could take care of this.
Zimbabwe, on the other hand, equally boasts sporting and aviation equipment and systems that would complement Botswana, with the proximity of the two countries and their interconnectedness providing seamless coordination.
It should also be remembered that billions of taxpayer Pula have been spent in recent years in developing stadia such as the National Stadium and similar structures in Francistown, Lobatse and Molepolole.
In an era where the finance ministry’s mantra is ‘self-liquidating’ projects, the under-utilisation of these stadia represents a negative return on investment for taxpayers.
Their seasonal usage by sporting clubs and for various events cannot begin to return value to taxpayers, notwithstanding the incessant complaints by clubs that the fees for usage are unfairly high.
The recent African Youth Games proved that in terms of administration, logistics, facilities as well as public/private cooperation, Botswana is ready for the big leagues in terms of hosting continental sporting events.
Whatever the creases that need to be ironed out before a formal bid is submitted by September 30, it would be wise for government to quickly apply itself to the BFA CEO’s proposal.
Other bidders have secured their respective governments’ approval and are already jostling for the 2017 tournament. Let’s go for it.
Today’s thought
“Fortune favours the bold.”
- Latin proverb