Regional table tennis games moved to January
Kabelo Boranabi | Thursday November 23, 2017 13:01
Speaking to Mmegi Sport, Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA) vice president, Lelentle Mokhupuki said upon realising a clash in the dates for the two events, the association requested that they have the regional games moved.
“We have moved the games because they clashed with the Botswana Games. Although table tennis is not part of the (Botswana) games we took a decision to set another date. We wrote to the region and they allowed us to host in early January,” she said.
Mokhupuki, who is the Local Organising Committee (LOC) secretary, decried lack of funds to organise the tournament. “We are pleading with the public and the corporate out there to assist us with funds. Sponsors are not coming forth as we had hoped. We are yet to ask from the government through the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) to assist us. Since they are hosting the Botswana Games, we believe that they will help us in kind rather than monetary form but we remain hopeful,” she said.
The regional games will attract players from Botswana, South Africa, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi while Lesotho is yet to confirm their participation. The games will run from January 19 to 24 and will attract over 130 players.
Last year, Botswana won bronze medals in both the men and women team events while in the individuals’ event, only Bonolo Mabote managed to reach the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Para table tennis (table tennis for people with disability) will be played at the regional games for the first time in history. Mokhupuki welcomed the development and said they have since engaged the Paralympics Sports Association of Botswana (PASSOBO) for assistance with the players. “The players will to be classified so we have since engaged PASSOBO to assist with classification and identifying players since they have already been working with them.”
The BBA over the weekend hosted a selection camp to pick a team that will represent the country.
The men’s team, which is under the tutelage of Sai Maribe, has Bakang Maloka (Moshupa Spinners), Tirelo Tshipinare (Nhabe), Boago Malobela, Masa Lesole (both Smash Spinners), Tshenolo Mooketsi (BDF) and Kola Modisaotsile (True Identity).
The female team which will be guided by coach Welcome Tema comprises Tshepiso Rebatenne (Nhabe), Game Kebodiwang (BDF), Boitshwarelo Butale, Oratile Ramagapu (both Smash Maniacs), Oratile Kedisaletse and Namibo Mbulawa (both True Identity).
The country will also have a junior team by virtue of being the host, while the Para table tennis team is made up of Onnetse Isiah and Lameck Tsimane.
The LOC is made of Edwin Matlotse (chairperson), Bao Sheng Yang, Shiv Pal, Condrad de Bruin, Kagiso Phatshimo (vice secretary), Fola Leero, Zacharia Seabo and Tshepo Modisane. The committee will be unveiled to the public in the near future.