BTTA picks pace on AUSC games preps
Kabelo Boranabi | Tuesday August 1, 2017 15:42
The committee, led by Thebe Selema, was voted into office in May but preparations for the regional tournament were delayed as some members of the old committee were said to be dragging their feet in handing over power to the new committee.
Speaking to Mmegi Sport yesterday, BTTA competitions secretary, Tshepo Modisane said the handover process is progressing, but could not share further details.
“The (handing) process is ongoing, hopefully it will be done soon. But we have since assumed office and we have started to prepare for the AUSC games.
We will update the public on progress before the end of this week,” Modisane said. He further said the association is impressed with the performance of players selected for the tournament and would meet with the technical team to draft a training schedule.
“We have named a very youthful team. Sport is all about competition, but we also have to look at the development aspect. The players (selected) have been doing well.
They are the top ranked in the country, meaning they have been working very hard. Everything is now left to us (the committee). We should have a series of training camps from now until December, but we would meet the coaches to get their plan some time this week,” the former national team coach said.
The country will have two teams at the competition by virtue of being the hosts. The men’s team is made up of Bonolo Mabote, Bakang Maloka, Thobo Matlhatsi, Tirelo Tshipinare and Masa Lesole while the women’s team has Tshepiso Rebatenne, Boitshwarelo Butale, Olorato Ramagapu, Oratile Kedisaletse and Game Kebodiwang.
Last year, Botswana won bronze medals in both the men’s and women’s team events while in the individuals’ event, only Mabote managed to reach the quarterfinals.
The tournament is likely to start in the first week of December. Meanwhile, New Horizon hosted a BTTA ranking tournament at the Gaborone Senior Secondary School hall over the weekend. The 20-year-old Maloka of Moshupa Spinners emerged as the winner in the men’s category after beating former number one Smash Maniacs’ player, Mabote in the final. Nhabe table tennis club’s Rebatenne continued her dominance in the women’s singles as she beat Butale. Smash Maniacs won the men’s team event while True Identity scooped gold in the women’s team event.
Full list of winners:
Under-21 Men Singles
Mooketsi Tshenolo (BDF)
Under-21 Women Singles
Tshenolo Matalo (True Identity)
Under-18 Boys Singles
Thapelo Molefi (Seepapitso Senior Secondary School)
Under-18 Girls Singles
Cana Mokgethi (Naledi Senior Secondary School)
Under-15 Boys Singles
Kago Gobela (Tashata Junior Secondary School)
Under-15 Girls Singles
Kaone Matlhare (Matlhasedi Junior Secondary School)