01 Feb 2015

Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA) continues to enhance its officials capacity and regional performance despite the code’s constraints.

BTTA competitions secretary, Kudzanani Motswagole said this in an interview during the Botswana Open held at Botswana National Youth Council (BNYC) over the weekend. 

The competition was the association’s first calendar event and the results from the competition would be used as yardstick to select national team players and also select the 2016 Top 8 league players.

Motswagole stated that despite minimal funding by its mother body; Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC), 2014 was a fruitful year for BTTA as they realised 21 international umpires something that had been one of the association’s setback.

As a result, he said the association roped in four foreign umpires during the 2014 Africa Youth Games that were held in the country. He said they also managed to produce 20 level 1 coaches, an indication that they were winning in capacity building.

“Two years ago we faced challenges in competitions as we had limited trained officials and that is why we used to hold about four tournaments annually, while last year we held 13,” he said. This year the association’s calendar boasts of 16 tourneys.

He further said in the past, one person used to do multiple task; something said contributed to poor execution of duties.

Motswagole said the new development had also spurred the players’ performance, thus the current rating of second in the region, after South Africa and remains optimistic to snatch the top spot in future.

“We are hosting Botswana Open in April and so far we have been warming up for the meet and promise to outdo our opponents.”

The Botswana Open attracts best players from Southern African countries and offers mouthwatering monetary prizes.

The competition secretary said because of their pool of trained officials, resources and qualified the regional body saw it fit for the local association to host, and for the first time.

He also indicated that although the BNSC allocated an officer to work with a number of sporting codes, BTTA had since engaged their own administrator to ensure that the there was no divided attention.

“Since we get lesser grant we had since embarked on fund raising activities and it is from that money that we are able to pay our administrator,” stressed Motswagole. He said it was their desire to see more local officials officiating in international competitions.

Nevertheless, Motswagole lamented that inadequate grant affected their participation in international competitions.

He said although table tennis was both a team and individual event but were always disadvantaged because they were allowed few slots to major games.

“Although we perform impressively in individual event, it does not amount to anything if we do not have representation in team events. This is a concern to us, as this contributes to dismal performance in major games,” the BTTA official said.

Inadequate preparations prior to major meets due to the closure of the table tennis high performance centre in South Africa, he said was also a concern where they used to take their players for training camps, but now relied solely on local coaches.

However, he was hopeful of their equipment suppliers to sponsor some of their players to train in international centres, as the companies have extended such gesture to some countries.

On the games, Kennete Santudu and Tshepiso Rebatenne from Nhabe club led the pack on mixed doubles. They were seconded by Smash Maniacs players Matshidiso Osi and Tshepo Modisane while Joseph Kgatlampane and Boitshwarelo Butale and Kola Modisathebe and Namibo Mbulawa also from Smash Maniacs shared third position.

Nhabe repeated its winning feat in men’s doubles as Santudu and McDonald Qalinge topped the list.

Moshupa players Tlotlo Kgosimore and Bakang Maloka finished in second place, followed by Maniacs’ Bonolo Mabole and Kgatlampane and Tiro Lesomo and Modisathebe in third place.

The Maniacs stamped their authority in the women’s doubles as Butale and Lovie Chilisa and Osi and Phemelo Gaborapelwe finished first and second respectively.

The army ladies Oabona Raditloko and Salome Matlhatsi and Game Kebodiwang and Hetweg Kangootui shared the third spot. ENDS