National team stars shine in ping-pong tourney

Thato Kala | Tuesday January 28, 2014 14:37

THATO KALA

Correspondent

ational table tennis table players travelling to Lusaka tomorrow for the Zone Six Championships put up excellent performances during the inaugural Gaborone Open tournament over the weekend.

The biggest shock was Tshepiso Rebatenne's 4-2 win over the country's number one female star, Boitshwarelo Butale of Smash Maniacs.

Butale has previously swept every gold medal that table tennis had on offer.

The result boosts Rebatenne's confidence ahead of the Zone Six. The country's number eight was roped into the team as a replacement for Matshidiso Osi who misses the tournament due to ill health.

'Members from the national team camp did extremely well during our inaugural tournament. Joseph Kgatlampane did well, so did Tshepiso (Rebatenne).

They managed to get gold and we believe this is motivation for them ahead of Zone Six. It shows we do not really rely on the same players all the time,' Botswana Table Tennis Association spokesperson Lelentle Mokuphuki said.

Mokuphuki said the wins were a big boost for the national team. Reigning number one Rorisang Raesima did not make it to the senior men's final, leaving Kgatlampane of Smash Maniacs to dismiss Tiro Lesomo 4-0. BTTA is sending a 10-member team that is already without men's number two, Bonolo Mabote, who was suspended because of indiscipline. The team is comprised of four juniors and six senior national team players.

BTTA president Thebe Selema confirmed Osi would not be part of the team. 'We will not be travelling with Matshidiso (Osi) as she has not been well so she has been replaced by Tshepiso (Rebatenne),' Selema said. He also said Mabote was still not part of the team as he is still serving suspension. BTTA announced his suspension for disciplinary issues in October last year. Mabote has been a key member of the national team for almost a decade.

Selema said the team went into camp on January 6 and have been preparing for the tournament that starts on Friday. Mabote's replacement, Botswana's number eight, Kola Modisathebe, and Masa Lesole have also stepped up preparations for the Zambia tourney.

The women's number three, Lovie Ludo Chilisa, is also part of the national team.The juniors travelling to Lusaka are gearing up for the 2nd Africa Youth Games billed for May.

The senior players will draw motivation from prospects of representing the country at next year's Glasgow Commonwealth Games when they compete in Lusaka. Last December, the Zambians put off the tournament barely two weeks before the scheduled date, as they were not prepared.

Selema confirmed the hosts had indicated they are ready this time and the tournament will go ahead.

.The biggest shock was Tshepiso Rebatenne's 4-2 win over the country's number one female star, Boitshwarelo Butale of Smash Maniacs.Butale has previously swept every gold medal that table tennis had on offer.The result boosts Rebatenne's confidence ahead of the Zone Six. The country's number eight was roped into the team as a replacement for Matshidiso Osi who misses the tournament due to ill health.'Members from the national team camp did extremely well during our inaugural tournament.

Joseph Kgatlampane did well, so did Tshepiso (Rebatenne). They managed to get gold and we believe this is motivation for them ahead of Zone Six. It shows we do not really rely on the same players all the time,' Botswana Table Tennis Association spokesperson Lelentle Mokuphuki said.Mokuphuki said the wins were a big boost for the national team.

Reigning number one Rorisang Raesima did not make it to the senior men's final, leaving Kgatlampane of Smash Maniacs to dismiss Tiro Lesomo 4-0. BTTA is sending a 10-member team that is already without men's number two, Bonolo Mabote, who was suspended because of indiscipline. The team is comprised of four juniors and six senior national team players.BTTA president Thebe Selema confirmed Osi would not be part of the team. 'We will not be travelling with Matshidiso (Osi) as she has not been well so she has been replaced by Tshepiso (Rebatenne),' Selema said. He also said Mabote was still not part of the team as he is still serving suspension. BTTA announced his suspension for disciplinary issues in October last year. Mabote has been a key member of the national team for almost a decade.Selema said the team went into camp on January 6 and have been preparing for the tournament that starts on Friday. Mabote's replacement, Botswana's number eight, Kola Modisathebe, and Masa Lesole have also stepped up preparations for the Zambia tourney.The women's number three, Lovie Ludo Chilisa, is also part of the national team.

The juniors travelling to Lusaka are gearing up for the 2nd Africa Youth Games billed for May.The senior players will draw motivation from prospects of representing the country at next year's Glasgow Commonwealth Games when they compete in Lusaka. Last December, the Zambians put off the tournament barely two weeks before the scheduled date, as they were not prepared.Selema confirmed the hosts had indicated they are ready this time and the tournament will go ahead.