Bowlers face-off in week-long battle

Calistus Kolantsho | Friday May 23, 2025 12:25

The tournament is divided into the men's and women’s Singles, Pairs, Trips, and Fours. Amongst the talented bowlers from different clubs across the country who will compete at the championships is Edwin Nyoka Junior of Orapa Club, who will be making his debut in the Men’s Singles. The 19-year-old comes into the National Championships fired up after winning the Club Singles in April. His father, who is also his coach, Edwin Nyoka, told MmegiSport that Junior is calm ahead of the championships and that could be due to having played a few Majors. “He will be meeting the same faces he has faced in the past Majors but at a higher competition now. I have also encouraged him to take it easy and not put too much pressure on himself, that will make him (feel the) fear. I have also told him that he should just give a good account of himself and everything will just fall in naturally,” he said.

Nyoka said the player knows that he would be competing against the best and that there will be winners and losers. “I am proud of him, especially that he hit it off straight away after I gave him the first basics. The fact that I coached him to acquire my coaching badges, and he is doing well, makes me proud and happy that I did a great job,” Nyoka said. However, it will not be a walk in the park for the young Nyoka as he faces stiff competition from the defending champion, Modisaotsile Mphotho of Phikwe Club and Baven Balendra of Francistown Club. Fireworks are also expected in the women’s Singles category, where the defending champion, Mpopi Pelemo of Jwaneng Club will look to retain her title. However, Lebo Mascarenhas and Boikhutso Mooketsi are also eyeing the title. One of the Women’s Pairs defending champions, Chinky Sinombe of Gaborone Club is attempting to defend her title, this time around with a different partner, the experienced Marea Modutlwa. Sinombe will be playing lead in Pairs and Fours. “Last year, I won gold medals in both disciplines. I have been practicing every week and doing assessments with my teammates to make sure we obtain the same results as last year. So far I have played three National Championships and this will be my fourth outing,” Sinombe said. The 26-year-old admitted that there is pressure when it comes to title defence. “As a member of the Gaborone Club, people expect us to perform well as we have home advantage. I like pressure, it pushes you beyond the limits or what you think you are capable of,” she added.

Sinombe said her two medals from last year earned her a national team slot and she represented Botswana at the African State Championships (AST) in Orapa. She played Fours and Trips at the tournament, scooping a silver medal in the Trips. Meanwhile, BBA competition secretary, Khumo Kebalatetse told MmegiSport that preparations for the National Championships went according to plan. “Five clubs will take part in the tournament and each club has registered their own players who will compete in Fours, Pairs and Trips. In the Singles discipline, both men and women for the National Championships and the fourth player will be selected looking at the best in the clubs,” he said. Kebalatetse said the expectation is for the youngsters to outshine senior players like they did in the past competition.