Badminton umpires acquire international badges
Naledi Lemogang | Thursday April 27, 2017 13:41
The two passed a test during the Badminton All Africa Championship in Pretoria, which now means they can handle international assignments.
Mekgwe, a teacher at Thamaga Junior Secondary School and Modigela, who is at Madiba Senior Secondary School, underwent a two-day technical course and also passed their written tests. They now hold the Badminton World Federation certificate. This brings to three the number of international umpires, after Emmanuel Kgaboetsile acquired the badge earlier. Botswana had three officials who went for the Pretoria tournament and two were assessed.
Botswana Badminton Association president, Godfrey Mathumo said the two’s achievements will improve the level and quality of badminton in local tournaments.
He said officials handling local tournaments will be trained to be at par with continental and international standards.
“As the three officials get invited to officiate at international tournaments, Botswana Badminton will be represented and recognised at these events,” Mathumo said.
He added that local tournaments will be of professional level as technical officials play a very important role in enforcing badminton rules and they will get an opportunity to interact with other local umpires.
Mathumo said they have started to put up an official structure and database of court officials and it is sill work in progress. He said the association has more court officials around the country, saying that they are also working on accrediting officials at a local level as umpires, line judges and referees.
“We assist a lot to make sure that our officials excel internationally as we offer them advanced training and refresher courses,” Mathumo said.
He said the association assists with accommodation, travel expenses and sometimes, allowances.
Meanwhile, badminton which represented the country at the just ended Badminton All Africa Championships, came fifth out of nine countries.
In individual events, the women doubles (Botho Makubate and Leungo Tshweneetsile) emerged sixth out of the 24 doubles entries. Their male counterparts, Tlholego Chamo and Tefo
Kabomo were 12th out of 29 entries. Egypt, South Africa, Zambia, Nigeria, Botswana, Algeria, Uganda, Mauritius and Zimbabwe took part in the tournament, with the ‘Pharaohs’ emerging victorious.