Stadium shoddy job haunts BFA

MQONDISI DUBE
Staff Writer | Tuesday August 24, 2010 00:00

 

There was heartbreak for the Botswana Football Association (BFA) yesterday after the mother body learnt that the National Stadium, the targeted venue for the Zebras versus Togo clash, will be unavailable.

The BFA had requested the use of the 22,500-seater stadium for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifer against the West Africans early next month, but the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) has informed the BFA that the stadium is not ready yet.

BFA president David Fani told Mmegi Sport that they have been informed that the stadium is still unavailable, more than two years after it was closed for renovation.

Fani said the BFA would issue a media statement confirming the association's failed attempt to use the stadium.Successive deadline misses have seen the completion of the refurbishment work at the stadium delayed.

The BFA has bemoaned the non-availability of the facility, which led to a sharp decline in revenue from the turnstiles. In the absence of the National Stadium, the University of Botswana Stadium has been used for national team's games.

In its latest financial report, the BFA had projected a rise in revenue figures largely from the anticipated availability of the National Stadium and the Zebras' good run in the AFCON qualifiers.

The National Stadium's turf and poor drainage system are some of the factors that have contributed to delays in the reopening of the arena. It is reported that relevant authorities, the Department of Building and Engineering Services (DBES) and the project consultant are mulling over re-grassing the facility.

The BFA cannot use the new Lobatse Stadium, with a capacity of more than 22,000, because it is still incomplete.The stadium has also missed several deadlines and the latest completion date is the end of this month.

The construction of the two new stadiums in Francistown and Lobatse, as well as the refurbishment of the National Stadium were fast-tracked with the June 11 FIFA World Cup kick-off date as the target. With the construction and renovation of the facilities seemingly taking forever, unconfirmed reports are that the DBES is considering legal action.

'The DBES feels betrayed by the project consultant after promises that a proper job would be done. But after the stadium's surface was condemned, the DBES is considering taking the legal route,' a reliable source said.DBES asked for a questionnaire from Mmegi on the matter but had not responded at press time yesterday.