Africa’s first stadium constructed with sustainably sourced timber has officially opened.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Stadium of Life in Maseru, Lesotho, is said to set a new standard for responsibly sourced construction practices in the continent. The structure was independently certified by DNV Business Assurance against FSC requirements.
The FSC Stadium of Life (pictured) is the latest development at the Kick4Life Centre, a hub of social and economic development in the heart of Maseru, Lesotho’s capital city. The centre was first opened in 2011 as part of FIFA’s legacy for the 2010 FIFA Men’s World Cup in South Africa, with this initial support from world football’s governing body resulting in one of the world’s leading examples of a major tournament legacy achieving sustainable social impact.
The official opening brought together stakeholders from Lesotho and internationally, to learn about the unique approach to sustainable design and construction that was used for the FSC Stadium of Life, as well as learning how the facility supports the wider work of Kick4Life FC, as a charity, social enterprise and football club dedicated to social change.
Gerard Busse, FSC’s Africa and Middle East regional market development manager, said: “Project certification verifies that the forest materials come from responsibly managed forests, ensuring the promotion of environmental stewardship and community development.”
Peter Alele, FSC’s Africa regional director added: “The project highlights the continent’s potential to set global benchmarks in sustainable forestry, while demonstrating how responsible forest management can support wider social and economic development.”
Greg Markwell, sales manager for DNV Business Assurance Africa, said: “We’re proud to have supported the FSC Stadium of Life through our independent certification, helping to give confidence that the timber used is responsibly sourced and traceable. This was a passion project for me personally and the vision reflects DNV’s purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, and shows how sustainability and ingenuity can be embedded into landmark developments that deliver real community value – today and for generations to come.”
The design and construction process was led by Rise International through its ‘in loco’ design and build training programme, which supports the development of young professionals in the construction industry.
The stadium features 8,584 treated Eucalyptus poles, minimising concrete use and highlighting the potential of sustainable building materials. The poles were sourced from MTO Forestry’s FSC-certified plantations in Mpumalanga, South Africa, and by using FSC-certified timber, the project directly supports responsible forestry practices.
Daniela Gusman, founder of Rise International, said: “The Stadium of Life exemplifies a paradigm shift in sports infrastructure, combining sustainability, social impact, and cultural representation.”
The inclusion of a unique ‘Biodiversity Stand’ dedicated to showcasing diverse flora from across Lesotho’s 10 districts further highlights the important relationship between sport and nature, and will be used for community education about the importance of promoting biodiversity. A small outdoor amphitheatre – the Theatre of Life – has also been integrated, providing a stunning space for a wide range of educational sessions and cultural performances, and the opportunity to watch football through the lens of nature.
Steve Fleming MBE, co-founder of K4L, said: “Combined with our health education, gender empowerment and life-skills development programmes, this pioneering approach to organisational sustainability and livelihoods saw us recognised with the 2025 Laureus Sport for Good Award, and the FSC Stadium of Life is the latest development which continues to push new boundaries in Sport for Good and the sports industry as a whole.”
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