News reports
Order a long-term news report on National Stadium
Every mention in the Botswanan press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
The Botswana Gazette
… BONGANI MALUNGA One of Botswana football’s heavyweight rivalries returns to centre stage on Saturday night when Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Township Rollers collide in the eagerly anticipated Royal Encounter at the National Stadium…
Royal Encounter Returns Under LightsDaily News Botswana
… The two sides will clash at the National Stadium on Saturday. For Mochudi Centre Chiefs’ head coach, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, the fixture brings added pressure, but he said his priority was to build a team that would play well rather than focusing solely on results. …
Rollers and Chiefs set for showdownWeekend Post
… For ninety minutes at the National Stadium, Jomo Sono watched Botswana football at its most electric. …
Jomo Sono’s Blueprint for Botswana FootballDaily News Botswana
The return of the Botswana Premier League, following the international break, brings a tactical and narrative intrigue, anchored by week five’s marquee fixture, alias ‘the royal encounter’ between Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Township Rollers at the National Stadium on October 10. …
Chiefs host unbeaten Rollers in royal encounterDaily News Botswana
… Losika Ratshukudu put Botswana ahead in October 6 return leg at the National Stadium before Seychelles levelled, but Tlotlo Keipidile restored Botswana’s lead in the second half to secure their passage to the next round. …
Young Zebras turn attention to GuineaBotswana Sunday Standard
… Both sides are on four points and will arrive at the National Stadium from very different situations. …
Football Returns from International Break with a High Stakes Chiefs, Rollers EncounterDaily News Botswana
Botswana Men’s Under-23 national football team, The Young Zebras, will again face Seychelles in the second-leg clash of the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Stadium today. …
Young Zebras and Seychelles square offDaily News Botswana
The men’s Under-23 national football team, the Young Zebras, face a critical test of character when they clash with Seychelles in a crucial Olympic Games qualifier at the National Stadium today. …
Young Zebras face Seychelles Olympic qualifier todayDaily News Botswana
For more than 15 minutes, the sky above the National Stadium glittered with fireworks on Tuesday night, bringing a spectacular close to Botswana’s Diamond Jubilee pre-Independence celebrations. …
Botswana relives 1966 at Diamond JubileeDaily News Botswana
Botswana under 23 national football team, the Young Zebras, suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Mozambique young side during an Independence Day celebration match played at the National Stadium. …
Young Zebras suffer defeatMochudi Centre Chiefs, on a four-match unbeaten league run, play Township Rollers in the Royal Encounter on Saturday night at the National Stadium, with pride and early season momentum on the line.
9 October 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →
Mochudi Centre Chiefs, on a four-match unbeaten league run, play Township Rollers in the Royal Encounter on Saturday night at the National Stadium, with pride and early season momentum on the line.
9 October 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →
Township Rollers and Mochudi Centre Chiefs will play at the National Stadium on Saturday in a Botswana Premier League match. Both teams are emphasizing competitive performance, with Chiefs' coach prioritizing team development and Rollers' coach describing the club as in a rebuilding phase.
9 October 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Jomo Sono, the former Orlando Pirates player, watched Township Rollers beat Extension Gunners 3–0 at the National Stadium and praised the quality of Botswana's top-flight, saying the league can compete with South Africa's Premier League from number eight down. However, he warned that a generation of talent is slipping away due to lack of academies and school sport.
8 October 2026 · Weekend Post →
Mochudi Centre Chiefs face Township Rollers in week five of the Botswana Premier League on October 10 at the National Stadium. Rollers remain unbeaten in the 2026/2027 campaign but have experienced squad changes, while Chiefs seek to repeat last season's head-to-head success against their historically dominant rivals.
8 October 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Botswana's Young Zebras beat Seychelles 4-2 on aggregate in the CAF Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations first-round qualifier and advance to face Guinea in the second round, with matches scheduled for November 9 and 17.
7 October 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Township Rollers meet in a Botswana Premier League fixture on Saturday at the National Stadium at 7pm. Both teams are on four points, with Chiefs having played three matches and Rollers two, as newly appointed Chiefs coach Reneilwe Letsholonyane faces an immediate test against one of the club's biggest rivals.
5 October 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Botswana's Under-23 national football team faces Seychelles in the second leg of a CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Stadium, holding a 2-1 aggregate advantage from the first leg. Coach Michael Mogaladi's side aims to advance while managing fatigue concerns from recent matches.
5 October 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Botswana's Under-23 football team plays Seychelles in an Olympic Games qualifier at the National Stadium, seeking redemption after a 2-0 friendly loss to Mozambique. Head coach Michael Mogaladi expressed concerns about player fitness and preparation time, though noted the squad's hunger and resilience despite limited club football time.
1 October 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Botswana celebrated its Diamond Jubilee pre-Independence at the National Stadium on Tuesday night with performances from police and prison service bands, speeches from dignitaries including President Duma Boko, Mozambique President Daniel Chapo, and a fireworks display. The event, themed Building Resilience, Driving Prosperity, drew large crowds despite cold drizzle.
1 October 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Botswana's under-23 football team lost 2-0 to Mozambique's young side during an Independence Day celebration match at the National Stadium, with Rizan Romao scoring both goals in the second half.
30 September 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Young Africans have filed a counter-complaint with the Confederation of African Football against Gaborone United, accusing the Botswana champions of mistreatment during their CAF Champions League first leg in Gaborone. The complaint comes after GU filed its own complaint over treatment during the second leg in Tanzania on September 12, which Yanga won 2-1 to progress 3-2 on aggregate.
28 September 2026 · Botswana Sunday Standard →
Botswana will celebrate its 60th Independence Day at the National Stadium with the men's team (Zebras) playing Mozambique's Mambas at 3pm, followed by the women's team (Mares) facing Namibia at 6pm. The BFA said it included both teams to demonstrate commitment to gender sensitivity and Botswana's inclusive identity.
28 September 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
The Top 8 tournament returned after a six-year break with a P4 million injection from African Hero, with support from BTC's P1 million pledge, aimed at restoring commercial viability and grassroots impact of local football. Minister of Sport Jacob Kelebeng called for stadiums to reclaim their former glory and fill venues to attract corporate investment.
28 September 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Botswana's senior women's national football team, the Mares, drew 1–1 with Namibia in a friendly at Lobatse Sport Complex on Saturday as preparation for their CAF Women's Olympic qualifier match against Tanzania scheduled for October 9 and 13.
28 September 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Township Rollers defeated Extension Gunners 3-0 at the National Stadium, with goals from Marcell Papama (two) and Onkarabile Ratanang, lifting the 16-time champions to sixth place in the FNB Premier League. The win marks progress in the club's rebuilding effort following financial and administrative crises that prompted player departures.
21 September 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Botswana will celebrate 60 years of independence on September 30, marking the establishment of the Republic of Botswana in 1966. This year's Diamond Jubilee Celebrations will be held at Gaborone Main Mall under the theme "Building Resilience, Driving Prosperity," with national and community events coordinated by a National Organising Committee and district-level committees.
10 September 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Gaborone United travel to Tanzania for the return leg of their CAF Champions League preliminary round tie against Young Africans, needing an away win after conceding a late equaliser in Saturday's 1-1 first-leg draw at home. With the aggregate score tied, Yanga hold a slight advantage via the away-goals rule.
7 September 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Gaborone United will host Young Africans SC, a Tanzanian club with fifteen prior CAF Champions League appearances, in the preliminary round at the National Stadium. GU, with only two previous continental appearances, has been preparing strongly against the domestic champions who have won all five NBC Premier League matches with seventeen goals scored.
4 September 2026 · Weekend Post →
Back-to-back Botswana champions Gaborone United will open their 2026/27 CAF Champions League campaign at home on Saturday against Tanzania Mainland champions Young Africans SC at the National Stadium in Gaborone.
3 September 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →
Gunners defeated Chiefs 1–0 at the National Stadium on Saturday, with youngster Tefo Aleseng scoring the solitary goal. Gunners' manager Paradzayi praised his players for executing their game plan to frustrate the highly-rated Chiefs.
1 September 2026 · Mmegi →
Botswana's National Stadium has regained CAF Category 3 accreditation following comprehensive upgrades to its playing surface, media facilities, and security infrastructure. The stadium was previously unusable for continental competition, forcing national teams and top clubs to play home fixtures 465 kilometres north in Francistown at significant financial and logistical cost.
24 August 2026 · Weekend Post →
The Confederation of African Football has provisionally upgraded Botswana's National Stadium to Category 3 status, which the BFA president says gives the country greater flexibility in hosting international football and strengthens prospects for staging continental events.
19 August 2026 · The Botswana Gazette →
Upgrading the National Stadium to CAF Category 3 status eliminates the need to travel to Francistown for international fixtures, saving the Botswana Football Association approximately P800,000 per match in unbudgeted travel, security and accommodation expenses that can now be redirected to grassroots academies and local clubs.
18 August 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
A CAF inspection visit to Gaborone this week has reignited hopes that the National Stadium could regain continental approval to host international matches. The BFA is pushing for Category Three status, which would allow national teams and local clubs to host CAF interclub competitions at home, easing pressure on Francistown's Obed Itani Chilume Stadium, currently the country's only CAF-certified venue.
17 August 2026 · Weekend Post →
Botswana's National Stadium faces a new CAF inspection; BFA president Tariq Babitseng said success would allow the country to host its national team and CAF club competition matches in the capital, easing pressure on Francistown's Obed Itani Chilume Stadium, the currently only CAF-certified venue in the country.
10 August 2026 · Mmegi →
Botswana Football Association president Tariq Babitseng credits Gaborone United owner Nicolas Zakhem with rewriting the script of fleeting investor involvement, pointing to infrastructure investment at the club's stadium beside the University of Botswana — which hosts over 70 percent of FNB Premiership matches and has created 110 jobs — as a blueprint for sustainable club ownership in a country facing severe football infrastructure shortages.
4 August 2026 · Weekend Post →
Botswanan sprinter Warona Mokgosi, 19, ran 47.39 seconds in the 400m at the National Stadium to meet the entry standard for the World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon (August 5–9), qualifying by 0.01 seconds.
22 July 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Botswana's track and field elite and rising junior talent will compete at the National Stadium in a BAA Meet designed to keep athletes competing late into the season and serve as qualification for the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Oregon, USA.
16 July 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Government has set aside P23 million for Botswana's 60th Independence celebrations, which will feature the creative sector prominently through cultural performances, artistic showcases, sporting events, and heritage exhibitions across the country and at the Main Mall on September 30.
2 July 2026 · Daily News Botswana →
Orlando Pirates were crowned champions at the Clash of Legends event held at the National Stadium on Saturday, which featured rival teams and was attended by President Duma Boko and First Lady Kaone. The event aimed to raise funds and awareness for retired players facing difficult circumstances in their post-football lives.
22 June 2026 · Daily News Botswana →