Old Francistown stadium deserves a place in history

IKE VAVI
Correspondent | Friday February 26, 2010 00:00

 

The old screen walls, with a number of gaps resulting from the fallen portions and a barbed wire that is strategically placed on top of this wall to stop anything from going over it forms part of the landscape of this place. The wall, which is supposed to be white, is now projecting the signs of a weather- beaten structure. It is undoubtedly succumbing slowly but surely to the vagaries of the weather.

At the entrance to this place decorations made from gum poles and dustbins painted in Botswana national colours are evident. The word 'FRANCISTOWN'   majestically runs across the wall near the entrance.

Inside this arena, a few adverts have remained intact and provide a platform for the business community to market their products and their businesses.

There is also one big stand on the western flank, which is covered with some iron sheets. There are also some benches with green canopies to protect their users from the harsh weather conditions. The covered stand has over the years functioned as a reserved area for dignitaries and other Very Important People (VIPs) during important national and local events staged in this stadium.

Although sometimes during the week this area looks deserted, it usually comes to life during weekends or during significant events like football cup finals, Independence celebrations, Botswana Police Service and BDF Day celebrations or HIV/AIDS day commemoration to mention but a few. It is a place that has become synonymous with such kind of activities in the northern city.

It is one place that has made its contribution and will surely leave its mark in terms of the social life of the residents of this city and those from surrounding villages.

Unfortunately for this magnificent structure, the writing is on the wall. Very soon the beehive of activities commonly associated with this place will soon cease. The attention that this place has been getting is slowly drifting away and focusing somewhere else. The noise and the cheers that usually characterise the atmosphere at this place will soon be a thing of the past. The queues of both people and vehicles coming in and out of this structure will soon be no more. The gunfire and salutes that are usually displayed at this place during some celebrations will soon be part of a long history that will be associated with this area. The pushing and shoving at the gates of this magnificent place will be no more.

This impending calamity is not because the place has lost its glitter or capability. It is due to the construction of the multi-million Pula state-of-the-art stadium on the outskirts of the city along the Francistown-Maun Highway.

That this old stadium has become part and parcel of the greater landscape of the city and has undoubtedly resulted in the city residents having a special relationship and emotional attachment to it cannot be disputed.

For the 43-year-old Shakani Brandon, who originates from Tutume and is a resident of Area S location where the old stadium is located, ' The day of relocation to the new stadium will mark the end of an era for me. This stadium has become part of my life. Although I am happy that we now have a modern stadium, it will surely be a sad day for me to part ways with this old one. This stadium has made me what I am. My whole social life revolves around it,' he says with a heavy sigh.

He continues to pay tribute to this place that he has been frequenting for almost half of his life. 'I have been visiting this place for my entire life, although I acknowledge that it is small and lacking so many facilities. It has served us well and we need to acknowledge that.

It has hosted very important national events and various games for a very long time. For the past 22 years to be precise it has been part of my social life,' he says proudly.

Brandon maintains that, 'I even have my favourite sitting place.  I will miss that place dearly. It is really one of the historical sites of this city and we will never erase it from our memories no matter what happens.

It surely deserves a place in the archives and the historical books of this place and the country at large,' he argues. The 38-year-old Gilbert Selogo of Tutume but a resident of Bluetown location is also one of those who are saddened by the impending reality of the opening of the new stadium.

'Although the new stadium is nearer to my place, I feel very sad because of the imminent closure of the old stadium.  I have never missed a game in this stadium. It might look awkward but one thing certain about it is that it has served us well all these years,' he says.

Selogo is of the view that this is a place that should never be forgotten. 'This place should be preserved so that the coming generation will see it and be taught about it. I believe that such preservation will be the appropriate gesture and acknowledgement of the good that this place has done for the entire northern part of this country,' he reasons.

Selogo's sentiments were echoed by 48-year-old Israel Brutus Matone of Tonota, who is also a resident of Monarch location.

'I spent my entire youth days coming to this place. I will always miss the shouts that reverberated throughout Area S location and the whole of Bluetown. I will miss also the funny remarks that we often made after each and every game in the traffic jams that usually characterised some big games,' he reminisces.

He suggests that the stadium should continue to be used so as to prolong its lifespan. 'The old stadium should continue to be used so as to reduce the pressure on the new one. The issue of stadium bookings being full should be a thing of the past if this stadium is used,' he argues.

Matone maintains that leaving this stadium to rot would amount to negligence on the part of city fathers. 'One must remember that it used to be not only the pride of those living in the city but a pride for the whole northern part of the country as it was the only other stadium. Everybody, particularly those in the north, must feel proud to be associated with this national asset,' he declares happily.