It’s All Systems Go for the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix

Lovemore Dube in GABORONE, Botswana

Zimpapers Sports Hub

The stage is set for the FNB Botswana Golden Grand Prix — and Gaborone is buzzing.

After a race against time to ready the National Sports Stadium, organisers have pulled out all the stops to ensure Saturday’s international athletics showcase goes ahead as planned. For much of the week, there were doubts about the stadium’s readiness, with construction crews working around the clock since Tuesday to lay a new track surface and granules. By Friday afternoon, the only task left was marking the track lines.

At one point, organisers considered moving the event to Francistown’s Obed Itani Stadium, but the Botswana Sports Commission assured fans the Gaborone venue would be ready in time. Botswana Sports Commission CEO Tuelo Serufho remained confident throughout the week, maintaining that everything was on track.

By Friday, the venue was a hive of activity, with media scrambling for accreditation and tickets reportedly selling fast.

The Grand Prix has drawn a stellar field, with South African sprinter Akani Simbine, Kenyan sprint sensation Ferdinand Omanyala, and homegrown hero Letsile Tebogo among the headline acts.

Local fans are particularly excited about Tebogo and Botswana’s high-flying men’s 4x400m relay team, which has been making waves on the global stage. For many athletes and nations, this meet is more than just another race — it’s a crucial qualifier for next month’s World Relays in China, as well as a chance to punch tickets to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this August.

Zimbabwe is also in the mix, fielding three relay teams: the women’s 4x100m, and the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m. The men’s 4x400m squad is especially hopeful, having recently clocked the 28th-fastest time of the year — 3:03.39 — to stay in the qualifying hunt.

Only the top 32 relay teams globally, based on seasonal best times by the end of the weekend, will earn places at the World Relays.

National Athletics Association of Zimbabwe president Tendai Tagara and technical director Phakamile Lisimati remain optimistic, backing their athletes to rise to the occasion in Gaborone.

Saturday’s Grand Prix will also serve as a valuable dry run for Botswana, who will host the 2026 World Relays.