Stadium unavailability might scupper athletics plans

MOSAH MOKGANEDI
Correspondent | Friday December 10, 2010 00:00

 

The stadium has been closed since last year for renovations.

In case it is not available, the Africa Junior is likely to be shifted to the new Lobatse Stadium, provided it meets International Athletics Association Federation (IAAF) standards.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology, Carter Morupise recently told state television that he does not expect the renovations at the National Stadium to be completed soon.

He said government is not prepared to pay for additional work at the stadium after it was reported that the surface has to be re-laid.

'I foresee a situation where we will end in court if they (contractors) do not cooperate. We will not accept the stadium in its current state,' Morupise said.

Another P10 million is required to complete the P100 million renovation work at the facility.

Botswana won the bid to host the Africa Junior Athletics Championships ahead of Egypt and Algeria. Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) president Moses Bantsi is taken aback by the announcement from Morupise saying they had been assured that the stadium would be ready by next May.

Bantsi, however, is optimistic that they will host the event although he is not sure if the Lobatse Stadium meets IAAF requirements.

He said the contractor at Lobatse Stadium assured the BAA that the athletics track will meet IAAF standards although this has not been verified.

'If the National Stadium is not complete, our other option will be Lobatse Stadium,' he said. However, using the Lobatse Stadium will come at a huge cost as the initial plan was to host the championship in Gaborone, Bantsi said.

'It will be costly for us because that will mean transporting athletes to Lobatse,' he explained.

If the Lobatse Stadium does not meet IAAF requirements, the other option will be the new Francistown Stadium, which is still incomplete.

Bantsi explained that they have the option of postponing the event by a month, if the facilities are not ready.