01 Apr 2015

Botswana has started the All Africa Under-19 squash championships in the wrong footing.

The championships got underway at the National Squash Centre in Gaborone on Tuesday (March 31) with Botswana Team A and Team B losing two consecutive matches  in the team events.

Team A, comprising Theo Pelonomi, Elliot Sibanda and Chadiwa Moyo, was beaten 3-0 respectively by South Africa and Egypt in Pool A.

Team B, made of Tebogo Thabologo, Boitumelo Nkgageng and Ephraim Motlhaping, also suffered 3-0 defeats to Egypt and Zimbabwe in Pool B.

In the first Pool A match against Egypt, Theo Pelonomi was the first to battle out with Abdelrahman Zaher, with Theo losing all three sets of the match by 11-4, 11-3, and 11-0. Elliot Sibanda took on Saapeldin Ehab and succumbed to a 11-6, 11-4, and 11-2 straight sets defeat.

Botswana’s third Chadiwa Moyo also lost all three sets against Matar Hant of Egypt by 11-4, 11-0, and 11-0.

Botswana’s misery continued in Pool B as Team B as displayed poor results against South Africa Team A with Tebogo Thabologo going down 11-2, 11-0, and 11-4 against JP van der Merwe. It was simply a bad day for the young players from Botswana as they failed to match their opponents.

Botswana’s woes continued as Ephraim Motlhaping was battered 11-4, 11-0, 11-0 by John Kuhn, while Boitumelo Nkgageng went down 11-0, 11-1, 11-2 to Moriska Wiese.

The two teams continued their gloomy performances with Team A losing against South Africa A. However, Tebogo fared better for Team B against Zimbabwe as she picked the first set of the tournament for the country, though she eventually went down 9-11, 11-5, 11-5, 11-4 to Chrispen Chimokwo.

Other players suffered straight sets defeats. Other results: (Pool A) South Africa B 3-0 Zimbabwe B, (Pool B) Zimbabwe A 2-1 Namibia. ENDS