May 13 – New stadia are usually measured by the number of spectators they can hold. The FSC Stadium of Life that opened this week in Maseru, capital city of Lesotho, is better measured by the 8,584 treated Eucalyptus poles used in its construction.
FSC is the acronym for the Forest Stewardship Council, a non-profit organisation that provides a responsible forest management solution and currently has more than 170 million hectares of forests worldwide certified to FSC standards. The Stadium of Life is Africa’s first stadium constructed with sustainably sourced timber.
The stadium is the latest development at the Kick4Life Centre, a hub of social and economic development in the heart of Maseru, that was first opened in 2011 as part of the legacy for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. It is a leading example of a major tournament legacy achieving sustainable social impact.
The stadium has been built with a unique approach to sustainable design and construction within a facility that supports the wider work of Kick4Life FC, as a charity, social enterprise and football club dedicated to social change.
The stadium’s 8,584 treated Eucalyptus poles minimise concrete use and highlight 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 architects Rise International, said: “The Stadium of Life exemplifies a paradigm shift in sports infrastructure, combining sustainability, social impact, and cultural representation.”
The stadium includes a unique ‘Biodiversity Stand’ that showcases diverse flora from across Lesotho’s ten 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 – is integrated into the space for a wide range of educational sessions and cultural performances.
Kick4Life FC’s mission is to transform the lives of children and young people in Lesotho through the power of sport, with a range of interventions focused on health, education, gender, employability and nature. Globally, through Kick4Life Assist, they support organisations developing and implementing Sport for Good programmes and social enterprises.
“The new facility will extend the impact of Kick4Life’s existing centre, serving as a home ground for our football teams, including our women’s team who became national champions of Lesotho in 2025, qualifying for the CAF Women’s Champions League,” said Motlatsi Nkhahle, Kick4Life’s Country Director.
“Through the Kick4Life Academy, the facility will also be used to prepare more young people – on and off the field – for genuinely life-changing student-athlete scholarships at international universities.”
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