12 Nov 2014

Phikwe Bowls Club are winners of the 2014 edition of Botsogo-Tuli Trophy Tournament that held in Selebi Phikwe over the weekend.

The Phikwe Bowls B team represented by Troy Davids, John Gaborutwe, George Kieni and Lesego Motladiile who is also under 25 reigning women’s youth champion won this year’s tournament with six points plus a 32 shot difference. 

The Phikwe Club won the tournament for a record fourth time in the last eight seasons sponsored by Botsogo Health Plan. They were the defending champions of the Botsogo Health Plan Tournament having won it in 2013. They also successfully defended the tournament championship in 2009 and 2010.

Phikwe Bowls A team represented by Oabona Motladiile, Dane Senna, Nelly Senna and Obakeng Gaborutwe came in second with six points plus 30 shots difference, followed by Francistown A team represented by Baven Balendrea, Violet Wheatley, Patrick Armstrong and Shenila Mohamed in third place with.

Orapa Bowls Club B-team comprising of Kitso Robert, Joe Nthebolang Deliwe Kitsiso and Gobe Bathana came in fourth. The winners of the tournament pocketed P3000, runner-ups took home P2000 while those in third place took home P1500 and in fourth position P1500. 

The annual tournament sponsored by Botsogo Health Plan at a tune of P20 000 attracted 12 teams namely Francistown Bowling Club which brought in four teams, Gaborone Bowling Club competed with two teams as well as Orapa and Jwaneng Bowling Clubs including Selebi Phikwe Bowling Club. In total 48 players took part in the competition.

During the prize giving ceremony, the President of the Botswana Bowls Association (BBA), Mr Robert acknowledged Botsogo Health Plan for sponsoring bowling tournaments for the past eight years. He said the organization has played a meaningful role in the development of the sport. However, he noted that more youth need to be engaged in sport as currently only few youth participate in the bowling sport. He said Bowling is gradually growing in Botswana. 

For his part, the Relationship Manager at Botsogo Health Plan Tsotlhe Machiba said his organization is committed to promoting bowling since the sport is less recognized in Botswana. He also said the idea behind sponsoring the sport is to encourage more youth to play the game and for the sport to serve as recreation for both adults and youth. 

Meanwhile the Public Relations Officer BBA Mr Gaborutwe told BOPA that in November 18 the BBA will be sending two individuals namely Nelly Senna and Tim Morton to represent the country at the Masters Tournament New Zealand. ENDS