04 Sep 2016

Botswana Cricket Association (BCA) in collaboration with Botswana Primary Schools Sports Association (BOPSSA), held a mini cricket tournament for standard four and five students in the Chobe District over the weekend.

BCA development officer (North), Clement Chipanga stated that while the sporting code was fairly new to Botswana, the level of enthusiasm shown around the country was overwhelming.

“We started mini tournaments around the country five years ago and we have so far covered seven regions with only three remaining,” Chipanga said.  

He added that cricket had also been made available as one of the sporting codes offered at junior and senior schools.

Also while here, they spent a day imparting skills on students with disabilities at Kachikau Special Unit as part of their inclusion programme.

“Their level of enthusiasm was also overwhelming as a new sporting code to their programme adds some diversity,” he said.

The objective of the tournament, he said, was to impart skills to students and coaches at grassroots level as well as empower communities through cricket.

Regional cricket coordinator, Julian Tabengwa, however, complained of lack of facilities for cricket in Chobe, which said had hampered the growth of the sport.  “While we have cricket teams at primary schools, their performance has been poor due to lack of facilities,” Tabengwa said.

On the other hand, Tshegofatso Samoka of Kasane encouraged all participating students to take cricket seriously and use it as a means of earning income.

Meanwhile, a total of 99 boys and girls participated at the mini tournament.  ENDS