The Stadium of Life in Maseru, capital of the landlocked southern African nation of Lesotho, has become the first stadium in Africa to be built using sustainably sourced timber.
It was designed and built by Rise International, a non-profit that trains young construction professionals.
It went up at the Kick4Life Centre, a social enterprise hub that opened in 2011 after the 2010 Fifa World Cup held in South Africa.
The project has been certified by Germany-headquartered non-profit the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
FSC-certified timber and 8,584 treated eucalyptus poles were used during construction, sourced from plantations in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
The Theatre of Life, a neighbouring small outdoor amphitheatre has also been constructed, which can act as a cultural or educational venue.
A “Biodiversity Stand” for the stadium has also been erected and will showcase flora from across Lesotho’s ten districts.
Motlatsi Nkhahle, Kick4Life’s Country Director, said: “The FSC Stadium of Life is more than just a place to watch football; it is a destination that combines sport, nature, art, culture and social impact.
“It is an inspirational place where you can become part of a special community dedicated to building a brighter future for the children and young people of Lesotho”.
