Bowling team preparations gather pace
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday April 20, 2026 06:00
Speaking to MmegiSport, BBA vice president, Edwin Nyoka, explained that Edwin Junior Nyoka and Goitsemodimo Peo Ramodise are the only youth players in the team after their brilliant season.
Junior Nyoka is the men’s national singles champion whilst Ramodise is the reigning women's national Masters champion.
“During the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, we had only sent the women’s team because the men’s team had not qualified. The team did well because they finished in the top eight,” he said.
“This time around, we want to do better because we have intensified preparations. From Francistown, we are going to have another training camp in South Africa. The last camp will be in Glasgow, a week before the Commonwealth Games.”
The Commonwealth Games have been penciled for Glasgow, Scotland whilst the AST will be held in Lusaka, Zambia.
Nyoka revealed that at the Commonwealth Games, the team will play indoor bowls, and the players will need time to acclimatise to the format.
Outdoor bowls and indoor bowls differ mainly in surface speed, bowl bias, and environmental conditions. Outdoor greens are slower with wider bias bowls for stability, whilst indoor carpet is faster with narrower bias for precision.
Nyoka explained that outdoor bowls are played on grass surfaces that are slower due to higher friction while indoor bowls use faster carpet surfaces, requiring less effort to reach the jack.
He added that outdoor bowls have a wider bias for environmental conditions, whilst indoor bowls have a narrower bias for accuracy.
For this reason, Nyoka said the team needs time to get used to the surface.
One of the senior players, Mpopi Pelemo, will make her debut at the Commonwealth Games after she qualified following her silver medal win at the AST 2024, held in Orapa. “I am excited about getting an opportunity to represent my country at the international tournament,” Pelemo said. Meanwhile, Nyoka stated that Orapa Bowling Club would host the 2026 National Championships from May 9 to 16. “The tournament rotates amongst all five clubs annually. Last year, the national championships were hosted at the Gaborone Club. Jwaneng Club emerged as the winners of the Rhodes trophy, followed by Francistown, Gaborone, Orapa and Phikwe. Orapa were national champions in 2022,” Nyoka said.
The team Nyoka (assistant coach), Obakeng Gaborutwe (team manager) Men: Kaizer Geche (Orapa), Junior Nyoka (Orapa), Khumo Kebalatetse (Phikwe), and Modisaotsile Mphotho (Phikwe).
Women: Mpopi Pelemo (Jwaneng), Sebathu Chinky Sinombe (Gaborone), Boikhutso Mooketsi (Jwaneng), Kefilwe Tompie Moleleki, and Ramodise (Gaborone).