GBC wins Francistown bowling Major

Koketso Kgoboge | Tuesday March 14, 2017 15:22

Carlos Tigere of Phikwe Bowls Club bowling during the 2017 Francistown Majors Bowling Tournament held over the weekend in Francistown.PIC: KEOAGILE BONANG

The fours team included skip Balendra Balasignham, Marea Modutlwa, Andy Ashbridge and Warren Stuart.

The team played three rounds with the first two rounds played on Saturday and the last round played on Sunday morning and they won all rounds to attain maximum points. Second position and third went to hosts Francistown Bowls Club’s Team B and Team C respectively. Orapa Team B finished fourth. GBC skip Balasignham was ecstatic with the win. He said on paper his team was the weakest in the tournament. He said individually they are not the best of the bowlers and the other member of the quad was a beginner.

“It goes a long way to show that collective effort is better than individual play. It’s a lesson to the youngsters. After winning our first game we never looked back. We remained positive and concentrated much. I am happy for my team,” he said.

NTT Nissan Francistown and Haskins sponsored the two-day tournament. It recorded, for the first time, a full house in Botswana bowling with 64 bowlers from 12 teams filling up the greens. The chairman of the Francistown Bowls Club, Des Desai applauded the attendance and the growing numbers of younger players in bowling.

“We are happy the greens was filled with more locals and youngsters. This means to us the interest in the sport perceived for many years as for elderly people is growing,” he said.

The tournament was also a farewell to two bowling junior champions who will be departing to Australia on March 24, to represent the country in the Australia juniors bowling open that will be held next month.

Carlos Tigere (22) and 18-year-old Lesego Motladiile both of Selebi-Phikwe Bowls Club qualified for the Australian showpiece by virtue of winning the 2016 International Junior Championships played last year in July in Selebi-Phikwe.

Motladiile thanked the members of the bowling association for the contributions they made for the trip. She promised they will not disappoint.

“We are thankful for the contributions from the bowling family and the best wishes messages. We promise to go to Australia and do our best and bring medals to the country.” NTT Nissan Francistown pledged P5,000 and the dealer principle at NTT Wikus Combrink said the amount will be increased to P10,000 if the duo brings a medal from the international showpiece.