23 Feb 2025

The recent heavy rains that affected Gaborone and surrounding areas forced cancellation of some sporting activities.

Botswana Premier League games are amongst the affected; on Thursday, Match Day 21 was postponed. This was a day after the Matebele and Mochudi Centre Chiefs encounter was abandoned due to torrential rains.

Botswana Football League CEO, Bennett Mamelodi said in an interview that they had to postpone the games given that the pitches were not in a good state and also to protect the players and supporters from the effects of floods.

“Uppermost in our minds was the safety and wellbeing of the players, staff, officials and the fans. There is no pitch in and around Gaborone that has a drainage system, except Dinaledi Academy, which has some structural defects.

Dinaledi, he said, had arguably the best playing surface in Botswana, but the collapse of the eastern stands could be hazardous in treacherous conditions.

When asked how the postponement would affect plans for the season, Mamelodi said: “Yes, the schedule will be affected because the games will be rescheduled midweek, but it will affect all the teams and not some. But what I can assure you is that this season will end on May 24.”

With the weather forecast looking ominous from next week, it will remain to be seen how the BFL CE will handle the challenges that lie ahead.

Botswana Athletics Association (BAA) vice president Oabona Theetso also said they were to have visitors from World Athletics Relays 2026 bid team to inspect the facilities.

He, however, said the delegation could not make it since they had challenges with their travel from Brazil to Botswana.

“I would say it is a blessing in disguise because they were coming to inspect our hospitals, Stadiums, hotels and roads,” he said.

Theetso said it was going to be difficult to tour some of the facilities given that they were affected by the flood.

“If you look at the state of our roads, they were going to give the delegation a wrong impression,” he said.

Some of the sporting activities that were cancelled are softball and volleyball league, Women and Sport Botswana also cancelled their annual general assembly. Ends