Tough selection for Darts national team
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday June 13, 2022 16:00
The trials were divided into youth (Under 25 boys and girls), senior men, senior women and veterans. BDA tournament director, Letlhogela Mosepele told Sport Monitor that from the players that attended the trials, only a few were selected. “I only needed a few players who will be combined with those who proceeded to the next stage from the North.
They will join the current national team. From there the final selection will be made. I had 12 boys but I needed only three, the girls were 12 as well and I also needed three from them. The same thing applied in the North. There were 16 senior women and I needed only six,” he said. There were 24 senior men and eight went through.
The same thing applied in the North and the current team has eight and that makes the 24 but the final selection will be eight players. Mosepele said the plan is for the national team to play in the Region 5 Games slated for Namibia in August. He said those who win in Namibia will travel to Cape Town for the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) qualifiers. “Darts believes in development and at the moment there have players as young as 10 years. We have a player who is the current Region 5 Games champion being Caroline Manga Moitshupedi. She transitioned from Under 25 to senior women. She will be going to defend her title in Namibia” he said.
Mosepele also said next year they are focusing on development adding that they have people with disabilities playing darts. He said players who attended the trials are registered with the BDA through regions. “We selected the best league players so that we can select the cream that will proceed to join the national team. At that stage they will prove that they are better than the national team. When we reach the final selection next month, the current national team will be dissolved.
I will then select national team players from all the categories,” Mosepele said. He said the role of the national team is not only to represent the country but to also be the face of the association. Mosepele said drinking of alcohol is prohibited in the sport. BDA has 12 clubs in the South and nine clubs in the North playing in the league.
The current log leaders in the South is Zoopers, position two is Police and BDF is in the third spot. The league is currently in the first round. Southern Zone players who qualified for next stage: Senior men: Fidzani Motang (Jwaneng), Motsholathebe Kutoro (Zoopers), Tshupo Ramotlhala (BDF A), Mpaphi Mdabuli (Police), Rebaone Kgaswane (Pinpoint), Ernest Masalila (Police), Moitshupi Seomile (BUAN) and Pecyval Bagwasi (Jwaneng). Senior women: Bofedile Dube (Divas), Khumo Kebadiretse (BDF Thebephatswa), Maipelo Raseila (Divas), Basetsana Munisola (Divas), Linda Chaka (Tork Craft) and Pinky Lopang (Divas). Youth boys and girls: Marius Poloka (Police), Olebile Kebaabetswe (Arrows), Dibebe Leilamang (BUAN), Mpho Keromang (Tork Craft), Lone Monowe (Tork Craft) and Tebo Mokwena (Divas). Veteran men and women: Zero Baruti (BUAN), David Nlebwa (Police), Kelebonye Setlhalefi (Police), Monica Gwafila (Vets) and Georgina Motlhagodi (Vets).