Bona 2027 targets ‘minimum’ CAF requirements

BOTSWANA and Namibia are working towards meeting the ‘minimum’ requirements to jointly host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), says Bona 2027 technical bid committee chairperson Ashford Mamelodi.

The neighbours’ bid hinges on their ability to satisfy the Confederation of African Football’s basic requirements to host its pre-eminent continental showpiece.

That will be determined through the ongoing facilities audit by South African firm Reuben Reddy Architects, which is due to present its findings next month.

The assessors were in Botswana last week and arrived in Namibia on Monday to gauge the country’s readiness to co-host the 2027 Afcon.

“Ruben Reddy Architects is looking at the gap – where we’re at and the shortfall. In other words, the minimum expectations of CAF. And, they’ll be addressing very strongly the difference, or what we need to do to meet the minimum requirements,” said Mamelodi in his latest briefing on the progress made by his team on Monday.

“We are aware that all we need are the minimum requirements and nothing else.”
The auditors will meet with Ministry of Sport, Youth and National Service officials, the Namibia Football Association (NFA) and other stakeholders.

The meetings will take place in Windhoek and at Ondangwa, Oshakati, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund.
Also to be considered by the auditing firm are airports, accommodation and health facilities, and security, roads and other relevant infrastructure.

Ruben Reddy Architects are expected to complete their data capture on Friday before compiling an audit report which would comprise three volumes – an executive version, a focus on Botswana, and the third instalment spotlighting Namibia.

“We are quite happy that things seem to be moving quite speedily. We expect the delivery of the facilities audit report by mid-March. And, hopefully the bid book not later than May 2023.

“We hope it will not be late. Everybody, even those doing the facilities audit, is mindful of the time constraints,” Mamelodi said. Namibia hosted the women’s Afcon in 2014, and the men’s 2016 Cosafa Cup, but did not erect or upgrade facilities for either competition.

The two venues used for the tournaments, Sam Nujoma Stadium and Independence Stadium in Windhoek, have since fallen into disrepair and have been blacklisted for failing to meet the international standards set by CAF and Fifa. The BoNa 2027 lobby strategy includes a proposal to host the next CAF executive meeting, wooing investors and hosting glorified friendly matches between Namibia and Botswana.

“One highlight in the lobby strategy is a once-off home-and-away encounter between the Zebras and Brave Warriors. We’ll have to sit down with both associations and see how that’s practical.

“But it won’t just be a friendly. We’ll add some significance to it with a trophy or something similar,” Mamelodi said.

He said there are “some sticky issues” around the bid ambassadors, which the bid committee is “hoping to finalise very soon”.
Two out of the eight proposed individuals “did not sign the contract” to be the face of the bid for which they would need to undergo an induction workshop.

In November last year, the bid committee announced that Namibia’s ambassadors are Brave Gladiators star Lovisa Mulunga, ex-Brave Warriors captain Ronald Ketjijere, former Brave Warriors head coach Ricardo Mannetti, and national women’s hockey captain Magreth Mengo.

Botswana named ex-Zebras captain Diphetogo Selolwane, Jerome Ramatlhakwane, Bonang Otlhagile and Kefilwe Modisaotsile as ambassadors.