25 Feb 2024

In an effort to grow bowling from grassroots level, Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) held Bowling tournament, through Re Ba Bona Fa development programme in Jwaneng on Saturday.

The idea behind the tournament was to sensitise young people about bowling as a sport for all.

Speaking during the event, Botswana Bowling Association (BBA) treasurer and national coach, Gasegarona Pabalelo said most people used to perceive bowling as an adult sport, therefore they were working towards attracting more people especially the youth to the sport.

BBA, she said was concerned about the age groups which played bowling, as they were adults, hence they wanted to nurture the youth who would continue the sport, so that the sport did not go into obscurity once the current crop of players retire.

Re Ba Bona Ha coordinator in Jwaneng, Joseph Keorotse said they intended to mobilise the youth to join the sport.

“We want people to understand that this sport is not only for the rich and adults as most people believe,” he added.

He said they were happy with the overall delivery of the event and was optimistic that more people would join the sport.

Keorotse said like any other sport, bowling kept the youth off social ills and helped with good mental health.

He said the idea was to roll out bowling to schools, so that they would be able to compete amongst themselves.

Re Ba Bona Ha coordinator said they wanted to have a strong national team that would be made up of the youth and be able to compete in various countries.

Tshephang Modiakgotla, who had four children partaking in the tournament, said she wanted them to spend more time playing bowling, so that they did not have time to engage in social ills.

She was of the view that bowling would mould her children into responsible citizens as well as assist them with concentration, which would eventually pay off academically.

“I would also like to see them one day playing for the national team and some could end up playing it for a living, as a source of income,” she said.

Modiakgotla advised other parents to encourage their children to play sport as they would grow to be responsible citizens and some might end up playing it professionally.

Eight teams took part in the tournament and top three walked away with prizes, as well as outstanding players in teams from position four to eight. ENDS