Gaborone 2018 CUCSA Games count down
Sport
Economists do agree that hosting international sporting events is beneficial to a country’s economy. Recently Botswana successfully hosted Netball World Cup, Baseball-Softball International Conference and just hosted the IWG conference.
All these gave the country incredible amount of publicity and attracted a number of tourists. Botswana is determined to bring yet another international event. On the 18th to 22nd June 2018, nine of the ten southern African countries under the Confederation of Universities and Colleges Sports Association (CUCSA) namely Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Kingdom of eSwatini, South Africa, Namibia and Lesotho will descend in Gaborone City.
This hosting of an international event is an honor since it will help to shape the legacy of the city and the country. CUCSA games will bring along immense financial commitment to the country, put the country on the spot light and injection tourism money into the country. Every athlete and official entering the country will be a tourist, and as young as they are, they will definitely think of coming back to Botswana in the near future. The CUCSA games are a great investment to Botswana.
The legacy in CUCSA Games
It is fun to host events such as CUCSA games since it promise to increase understanding among different African cultures. The 2018 CUCSA games hash tag line πOnessThroughSport. The games are expected to bring together Ten Southern African countries of which Nine already confirmed their attendance namely; Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, Kingdom of eSwatini, South Africa, Namibia and Lesotho.
The situation is creating excitement and awareness about different sports played in Botswana and so the imagination of the whole nation is currently captured. There is an increased promotion of sports in the country due to the games and as such a lasting impact on young people who will continue loving sports. CUCSA games will be successful and will improve the nation’s image in the eyes of the world. The hosting sporting events is of great benefit to nations. The games bring excitement and injection of tourism money through spending by spectators. It is a serious source of economic generation.
CUCSA games coming to Gaborone
Southern African countries will converge in Gaborone from the 18th to 22nd June 2018 for the CUCSA games. Over a thousand athletes and officials will gather for over 8 day’s duration. These tourists will definitely boost the local economy. The shops, hotels and local tourist trade will greatly benefit from the visitors. The hosting sporting events is of great benefit to nations. The games bring excitement and injection of tourism money through spending by spectators. It is a serious source of economic generation.
Hosting of the games will stimulate regeneration, investment and long term benefits. The games will leave a lasting legacy for Botswana’s economy. It is anticipated that the CUCSA game will be followed by the world and mainly those in Southern Africa as they would want to know how their respective countries are performing. For all this days Gaborone city will be on the spotlight. These will lead to a long term growth in visitor’s numbers to the country and so long term benefits.
Sport
It’s do or die for Zebras
The senior national team, the Zebras, is currently in Equatorial Guinea to for an African Cup of Nations Qualifiers tie. Before they departed, the team’s coach, Mogomotsi Mpote, had his troops train in Morocco. This was through the agreement between the two countries.
The agreement between the BFA and the Fédération Moroccan Football Association states that the two nations will work together to organize friendly matches between their respective national teams. It also allows the establishment of football camps for the youth categories (U-15, U-17, and U-20), this includes women’s national teams.
The national team has played over 180 minutes in its two qualifying matches against Tunisia and Libya. Currently, the Zebras, Lesotho and Liberia are the only teams that haven’t scored yet in the competition (this is correct by press time on Friday).
Before the match against Equatorial Guinea match, the local boys who were once known as the whipping boys of Africa in the early 2000s, were languishing at the bottom of the log standings in group J. They lost their first match away to Libya on June 1, 2022. However, they managed to salvage a point against Tunisia last year.
Before the team left for Equatorial Guinea, coach Mpote urged his players to focus on keeping their hopes of making a return trip to the AFCON finals alive after an 11 year absence since the maiden appearance in 2012. He noted that they would not allow their opponents to score and would ensure that they would get a draw.
Despite the various changes that have occurred in the two countries’ football landscape, the two teams have only met once before. In 2010, the local boys defeated the Equatorial Guinea team in a friendly match, which ended in an emphatic win for the visitors. Since then, the two sides have realised different fortunes in FIFA rankings, with Equatorial Guinea ranked 51 places above the Zebras.
Meanwhile, in their last six games, Guinea has only managed to win one of them. They drew with Rwanda and Togo in September 2022 friendlies. They have found the back of the net just twice in their six games. On the other hand, the Zebras, won one match against Zambia and lost four on their way to finishing at the bottom of the group with four points. At the conclusion of their previous AFCON campaign, the local boys traveled to Zambia and secured a draw.
MPOTE CONFIDENT
Despite the recent results of the Guinean team, which have only managed to draw with Rwanda and Togo in their last six matches, coach Mpote is still confident that his team will perform well against the hosts.
According to the head coach, the local boys have the necessary skills and resources to perform well against any country. He noted that the team’s coaches have been studying abroad to gain a deeper understanding of the various aspects of football.
“Tactically they should also be ready. We need your (Botswana fans) usual support, when we come back from Equatorial Guinea, we will go to Francistown, and we will need you. You are our 12th player, and you are very important to us.”
OBED ITANI CHILUME STADIUM CERTIFIED
This week, the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) Tuelo Serufho revealed that the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium will host the return leg of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between the local boys and Equatorial Guinea. The venue had initially failed an inspection test conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). However, following the completion of the necessary works, the stadium was allowed to host the match.
According to BNSC Chief, Tuelo Serufho, the various requirements that the stadium must meet included having a designated parking area for the media and spectators, as well as having signage that will guide the spectators. He also noted that the venue now has a world-class media area.
Sport
Jagdish Shah rejects Rollers society
Township Rollers, one of the country’s most decorated football clubs with 15 premier league titles, is finding itself in a precarious situation as its long-term chief financier, Jagdish Shah, threatens to dump them if the society does not bow down to his demand of forfeiting their 20 percent interest in the company.
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Sport
Orange injects P350 000 into Phikwe marathon
Mobile network Orange Botswana is committed to supporting the development of local sport. Through its sponsorship, the company will be able to promote and market the sport. According to Maano Masisi, the company believes that sport can unite people from different backgrounds.
He stated that through the sponsorship of the marathon, the company will help promote healthy lifestyles and unity among the people of Selebi Phikwe.
The Selebi Phikwe Marathon is scheduled to take place on July 29, 2023. It is expected that it will attract international, regional, and social runners. A total of P216 000 has been allocated for the prize money for the first ten places in the 42.2 km race. For the 15km and 10km races, the LOC will give away prizes to the first five places.