02 Feb 2017

A pool of local bridge players are expected to throng the University of Botswana lecturer theatre tomorrow (February 4) hoping to make the final grade to be selected for the national team squad. 
According to organizers of these trials section a considerable number of players would be selected and called into camp for the final selection of a team that would represent the country at the forthcoming 9th Africa Bridge Championships penciled for the first week of May this year.
Botswana Bridge Federation (BBF) publicity secretary Mbakisi Malilo confirmed in an interview that the team will travel to the coastal city of Cape Town to take part in the biennial tournament that is divided into the open, women and senior categories.
In the last edition of the championships hosted in Sharm El Sheikh Botswana had sent a youthful and promising team to the South Sinai Peninsula and the pairs of Letsogile Mafa with Keoagile Chamo, Mbakisi Malilo and Prince Ramoseki and lastly Tebogo Kubanji and Glod Maele tried their bidding skills against the tried and tested north African powerhouses in the mold of Tunisia and the host Egypt.
Meanwhile Botswana has shown interest in bidding for the biennial event after the South Africa championships.
Botswana Bridge Federation president Mafa said they approached the African Bridge Federation about their intent and have been motivated to go all the way with their proposal. Mafa explained that Botswana had shown ambition to host the oncoming 2017 event but due to administrative hiccups failed.
Preparations are now underway to place a bid for the 2021 edition. ENDS