BBA revels as duo returns from Turkey training
Boitumelo Khutsafalo | Wednesday September 3, 2014 15:09
BOITUMELO KHUTSAFALO
Staff Writer
Two youngsters, Winnie Ponoesele and Bojelo Tiroyakgosi are back in the country from a two-week training camp in Turkey dubbed ‘Pass It On’.
The duo joined other children from around the world in the multi-cultural and social camp hosted every four years by the Turkish Basketball Federation.
Over 186 athletes from 93 countries and 93 coaches from across the world attended this year’s edition. Botswana Basketball Association (BBA) secretary general, Lesego Muzila said the young players from Botswana gained valuable practical experience, which they have already started to share with others at the Re Ba Bona Ha centre in Gaborone West where they are based.
He told a media briefing to welcome the duo that the training skills the players acquired in Turkey will benefit the association a great deal. “The athletes were also involved in team building activities across cultural activities which gave them exposure,” he said.
The two players also shared their experience and promised to impart the knowledge they gained to their teammates. Previously, BBA sent two players - Eric Sentongo and Malebogo Belaphitlho - to the Turkey camp.
Muzila said the benefits from sending players to the camp is evident in the great display by Sentongo and the basketball team at the Africa Youth Games. “We are very fortunate to have this relationship with Turkish Basketball Association as the sponsor of our athletes to the camp,” Muzila said.
While Sentongo made a name for himself at the Youth Games, Belaphitlho’s progress has been hampered by injuries. BBA technical director, Mothusi Thipe has however expressed hope that she will recover and return to action soon.
Muzila said from the brink of collapse several years ago, basketball has recovered and continues to soar. “We had our Under-16 girls team playing in the continental showpiece called Afro Basket and our Under-18 girls team is ready to participate at the same event in Egypt,” he told journalists yesterday.
Muzila stated that Sentongo and another young player, Bushe Ramabu impressed and attracted interest from international scouts after attending the National Basketball Association (NBA) Basketball Without Borders camp in South Africa last year.
“We also have our first Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA) referee in Dorothy Okatch. For the first time ever, Batswana will be able to see their national men’s team play competitive games in Botswana in the upcoming Afro Basket qualifiers against Mozambique and Swaziland,” he said.