29 Jun 2017

The Botswana junior cricket team is determined for success at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Africa Division 1 Under-19 tournament which also features hosts Kenya, Ghana and Uganda.

The 10-day 50 overs competition, which also serve as qualifiers for the 2018 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, will commence in Nairobi on July 1.

Botswana coach, Joseph Angara has selected a 14 member team captained by 16-year-old fast bowler, Tharindu Perera with Ane Moduke vice captain.

Other members of the team are wicket keeper Valentine Mbazo, Richard Pheko, Usmaan Mohideen, Brandon Van Zyl, Losika Makgale and Boemo Kgosiemang.

The team also includes Phemelo Silas, Thabo Thupane, Lawrence Ntshontsi, Junior Mosepele, Sean Mpaesele and Muaz Arooz.

Charles Nyamudzanga, the Botswana Cricket Association (BCA) spokesperson, was optimistic that the team would make the nation proud.

“We started grooming these guys at a young age at school level. The association dispersed equipment needed for their training in schools. We then organised platforms such as inter-school competitions, regional competitions and national tournaments where we scouted for the best talent among them,” said the coach in a recent interview.

Nyamudzanga said winning the tournament was possible because the other three countries were at the same level of development with Botswana.

The winner of the tournament will qualify for the Under-19 World Cup.

“There is a good opportunity that this team will progress because the boys have proven that they can fight. We failed to organise international friendlies for them because of lack of funds, but they played practice matches against the senior team and have learned a lot,” Nyamudzanga said about their preparations.

The tournament will be played in a round robin format with Botswana starting against Uganda on Saturday, followed by clashes with Kenya on Sunday and Ghana on July 4.

The second round will commence on July 6 with Botswana locking horns with Uganda, before taking on Kenya on July 7 and Ghana next week on July 8.  

Botswana qualified for Africa Division 1 competition after finishing second in Africa Division 2 in September last year. ENDS