More than 25, 000 bucket seats, tonnes of concrete, three covered stands and a dominant sky blue colour define the relatively colossal structure that is the National Stadium. Nestled between the country's institution of higher learning, the University of Botswana and various sport centres, the National Stadium is an unmistakeable presence to any visitor to Botswana's capital. It has stood the test of time from its humble beginnings and now stands close to a venue of international standards. Only that it has its frustrating moments, which have been increasing in frequency in the last two decades.
The Zebras are a brand that has been associated with the venue for the longest time with countless memorable wins and defeats. When Veselin Jelusic engineered a shift in the Zebras' fortunes after the turn of the millennium, the National Stadium became central to the nation's aspirations. Thousands became willing captives at the 'giant' facility as the Zebras put up defiant performances against the continent's finest. The National Stadium was the only facility deemed fit to host international matches, creating a treasure trove of the country's valuable moments. The stadium recently hosted the inauguration of the first-ever President to win elections outside the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP). In addition, the annual Botswana Defence Force and Police days are held at the stadium. This has been due to the unavailability of an alternative venue to host large crowds within Gaborone. Whilst the National Stadium stood tall and became the source of the blue, black, and white pride, an unwanted piece of history unfolded in 2008. With Botswana looking to benefit from South Africa's hosting of the 2010 World Cup, the facility was closed for renovations, expected to be re-opened a year later. But what was supposed to be a year's project dragged on, morphing into a saga that riled a nation as millions went down the drain. At the end of the renovations, the National Stadium was supposed to be a reborn world class facility with a stylish design incorporating modern trends, that would have seen all stands under cover. But after protracted wrangles between the contractor and government, the old image of the National Stadium emerged, with the only significant difference being the pink paint. In fact, five years of renovations had altered the facility to a giant pink stadium.
