Ramotswa U/13 cricket schools� tournament starts today
Teichler Rankoa | Monday September 15, 2014 15:42
Botswana Cricket Association’ CEO Girish Ramakrishna says the tournament involves eight schools namely- Ketshwerebothata, Mojadife, Magopane Hill, Seboko, Baratani, St Bernard, Otse and St Conrads primary schools
Ramakrishna says this is a 20- over contest featuring both boys and girls which begins today and ends next week Tuesday(September 15-23).
He said the participating schools are divided into two gropus named Pool A and Pool B, being Pool A- Ketshwerebothata, Mojadife, Magopane Hill and Seboko and Pool B- Baratani, St Bernards, Otse and St Condrads.
He noted that the opening match of the tournament will be between the host Ketshwerebothata and Otse primary schools which starts at 1:30pm today.
Tomorrow Ramakrishna says the game will be a battle between Mojadife and Baratani, followed by a tight encounter when hard to beat Magopane Hill lock horns with St Condrads on Wednesday afternoon and this is a game Ramakrishna says promises to produce sparks.
He highlighted that the last game of the preliminary stage of the tournament will be between St Bernards and strong Seboko on Thursady at 1:30 pm, adding that Seboko are favourites as they have proved to be a power house in Ramotswa.
Ramakrishna said the tournaments of this nature are important because they help them to prepare the players for big tournaments, as well as ensuring that there is a smooth transition of players from individual clubs to the national teams.
“We use these tournaments to make sure that our young players mentally and physically fit to paly for national sides, or even joining senior cricket teams,”says Ramakrishna.
Since this will be an Under-13 tournament, this will eventually help them see and select good and outstanding players for the Under-13, 15, 17 and 19 national squads, saying that Ramotswa schools (pupils) are playing cricket at their schools everyday, and this makes him confident that today’s tournament will be of high standard.
About games officiating, Ramakrishna told Monitor Sport that he happy because the teachers will be the one in charge, “We have taught many teachers how to officiate a cricket game, and these teachers will be the ones scoring and umpiring all the games,”informs Ramakrishna.
Ramakrishna also nonted that he is happy with the teachers’ involvement in cricket at their various schools including those in South East, highlighting that there is a notable improvement of young boys and girls skills, hence appreciating the teachers commitment.
“Teachers are really doing a commendable job, if it were not them we would be having difficulties in reaching a lot of children, and I am glad of all the that these teachers are putting to ensure that our mandate of taking cricket to pupils is a success,”Ramakrishna stated.