• Football

Francistown sheltering Namibian football

• 10 Hours Ago

Young African Football Club will play their Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederation Cup preliminary round match in Francistown, Botswana.

This was confirmed by club owner Marley Ngarizemo, who is busy preparing his team for an important continental assignment. The team is set to host Royal Leopards of Eswatini in their first-ever Confederation Cup fixture on 20 September.

“Young African Football Club wishes to inform our esteemed stakeholders, passionate supporters, and followers of an update regarding our upcoming CAF Confederation Cup fixture.

“Our home match against Royal Leopards FC of Eswatini will be played at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown,” Ngarizemo said.

Ngarizemo revealed that he had hoped the team would play their first match in Namibia. However, their dream of hosting the Eswatini side on home soil has been made impossible as Namibia does not currently have a CAF-accredited stadium.

For this reason, the team from Gobabis will make the Chilume Stadium their home ground for as long as they remain in the competition.

“While our initial preference and concerted efforts were to host this crucial match within our home nation, the unavailability of a stadium with Level 2 category approval has compelled us to opt for a Botswana venue.

“The Confederation of African Football (CAF) requires all host nations to provide formal approval by a strict deadline,” Ngarizemo added.

The team’s deadline to submit their home venue to CAF was on Tuesday, which prompted them to approach the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) for assistance.

“The Botswana National Sport Commission was the only body to officially approve our request within the mandated timeframe. We are profoundly grateful to them for their cooperation and swift action.”

The Young African owner acknowledged that relocating their home matches to Botswana may be difficult for fans. However, he assured supporters that the club is working on ways to make travelling easier.

“We understand this change may require adjustments for our dedicated fans. We are working tirelessly to provide travel information and will communicate any available details through our official channels immediately.”

After their match in Botswana, Young African will travel to Eswatini for the return leg against Royal Leopards in Mbabane, as both teams battle for a place in the next stage of the competition.

The challenge

Ngarizemo admitted that the competition will not be easy but remains optimistic about his team’s chances.

“This unique double-header against the same opponent presents a significant challenge, but our team is focused and prepared. We call on our supporters to rally behind the team in spirit from wherever they are. Your unwavering support is our twelfth player. We appreciate your understanding and continued loyalty as we navigate the complexities of continental competition.”

Young African FC qualified for the tournament after finishing second in the Debmarine Namibia Premiership, securing automatic entry. The team collected 54 points in a season where African Stars won the league with 58 points.

Young African won 13 of their 30 league matches, drew 15, and lost only two. They scored 34 goals while conceding 19.

Botswana becomes new home

The Brave Warriors of Namibia are also set to use the Francistown stadium for their World Cup qualifier, while African Stars are reportedly considering using it for their CAF Champions League campaign.

Previously, Namibian teams used stadiums in South Africa for official matches, but the country has now turned to neighbouring Botswana for support.