Golf: Botswana eyes record as Kenya seeks to dethrone South Africa

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Friday April 16, 2010 00:00

 

By yesterday afternoon, Kenya looked set to dethrone South Africa who has dominated the tournament since 1996. The East Africans had 18.5 points, after winning five of their eight singles match plays while South Africa with 16.5 points had won three by mid-day. The two title rivals were due to meet yesterday afternoon.

Meanwhile Botswana ended day three of the tournament at fourth spot after managing 2.5 points in the better ball category. Botswana team manager O'Neal Mokgosi told Mmegi Sport yesterday that he was unhappy that his team could not manage three points, which was their target.

He expected the team to do well against the likes of Malawi and Lesotho on Wednesday. 'I still expect us to finish in the top four, today (yesterday) is a do or die day for us because the tournament ends today (yesterday),' Mokgosi said.  Earlier yesterday, Mpho Kelosiwang, Stuart Smith, and Phenyo Lekgowa triumphed over Uganda, Swaziland, and Lesotho opponents in the singles, while Peter Podise lost to a Kenyan. However, Botswana was still hopeful of collecting more points with games against Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa remaining late in the afternoon. 

Mokgosi told Mmegi Sport he needed two more points in the afternoon to finish in the top four. 'To a large extent, how we finish depends on other teams' performance, but we need five points to be in a position to finish fourth. The problem is some teams like Malawi, Lesotho and Mozambique are just too weak, and they lose with big margins,' he stated. He said Botswana's losses to Lesotho and Malawi were upsets. 'That was an upset I must say, but at the same time we showed our character and held South Africa to a draw, I thought it was a great performance,' Mokgosi said.

Former Botswana national team player and golf administrator, Joseph Marudu said the country hosted the first Zone VI event back in 1982 and finished second. 'During that time, we were a mixed team, also made up of expatriates. We also hosted the event in 1989, and finished as runners-up again. But the 14.5 points the team achieved in Zimbabwe last year was the best in history,' said Marudu.