11 Jul 2021

 In preparation for the upcoming African States Tournament, Botswana Bowls Association (BBA) has announced a preliminary team of 16 players. 

The tournament will be hosted in Namibia from September 24 to October 3.

In an interview, BBA vice president, Regent Reid sid the preliminary squad wass made up of eight men and eight women.

He said the final national team to be selected at the National Championships to be hosted at Francistown on August 21-29 would be made up of five women and five men. 

Furthermore, Reid said the 10-men national team would go into a camp as part of the preparations for the Namibia African States Tournament. 

He said the Namibia tourney would be used to qualify African states for 2022 Birmingham (England) Commonwealth Games.

Reid said the preliminary team was made up of experienced players and therefore he was optimistic that the 10-men squad that would represent the country in Namibia was in a good position to qualify for the Commonwealth Games. 

“Most of these players have previously represented the country in different international games and brought home medals,” he added.

A statement from BAA says the preliminary squad included five women: Tibone Fox, Doreen Moleleki, Marea Modutlwa, Molatedi Douma and Boikhutso Mooketsi, who were recently shortlisted for the Botswana Sport Awards under the category of National Team of the Year.

 It also says the shortlisted men included the trio of Kabo Gaboutloeloe, Charles Diteko, and Edwin Nyoka, who had previously won four Gold medals at the 2017, African States Tournament.

The preliminary squad also included Khumo Kebalatetse as well as Remmy Kebapetse who were part of the Botswana men’s team that finished 9th out of the 25 countries at the 2019, Atlantic Championships in Cardiff, Wales.

The team will be led by the newly appointed, Gasegarona Pabalelo and Baven Balendra, as head coach and assistant coach respectively. Ends