Chinese coach arrives to drill national tennis team
Thato Kala | Friday June 13, 2014 17:47
The coach has been sent by the Chinese Olympic Committee and the Chinese Table Tennis Association (CTTA) for a three-month stint in Botswana. During the period, he will work with local clubs and youngsters.
His arrival comes at a time when the Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA) has just announced the Glasgow squad. The Commonwealth Games run from July 23 to August 3.
Botswana will send a six-member tennis squad of three men - Rorisang Raesima, Kola Modisathebe and Thobo Matlhatsi - and three women - Boitshwarelo Butale, Tshepiso Rebatenne and Wabona Raditloko.
Butale said Zhogquan’s coming is timely because he will help them ahead of the Glasgow games.
“I feel it is a positive development for our game, we look forward to working with him,” said Botswana’s number one woman player. Botswana table tennis players missed the last edition of the Commonwealth Games but made the cut this time during the Zone Six Games in Lusaka, Zambia.
BTTA president, Thebe Selema is hopeful the team will get the best preparations with the Chinese expert around.
“We have chosen Tshepo Modisane to be an understudy to the coach. The coach will be attached to the clubs as well.”
Modisane, the women’s team coach hopes to learn a lot from the Chinese.
“I am honoured to have been chosen to understudy the expert; we have always wanted to know how the Chinese do their things in table tennis. It is also exciting that he will work with our development players,” he said.
Modisane said his team is excited and ready to start training.
“The mood amongst the players is quite high. I am happy because this is the team I have been working with since the start of the season. We have developed and acquired the necessary exposure to compete in Glasgow,” he said.
The Glasgow team will use the BDF Open on June 26 and the South African Table Tennis Board (SATTB) Open in Bloemfontein next month to gauge their readiness for the Commonwealth Games.