Francistown Bowls host regional tournament
Koketso Kgoboge | Friday September 29, 2017 10:12
Three teams each from Zimbabwe and Namibia will play 10 local teams in the annual Invitational Trips. The tournament, also called the ‘money game’ allows the bowling players to group themselves in teams of three and battle out for the top prize.
Francistown Bowling Club (FBC) has hosted the tournament for over seven years.
Four teams will represent the hosts, Sunshine, Guns and Roses, Dilligaf and team Curry and Rice. Three teams are expected from Orapa, two from Selebi-Phikwe and one from Jwaneng.
Team Sunshine are the defending champions. FBC have won the tournament three years in a row after dethroning Guns and Roses who won the challenge in 2014 and 2015.
FBC chairperson, Des Desai wants to continue dominating the tournament. Desai, who is also a player for Guns and Roses, said his team in particular is ready to reclaim the title from their nemesis Sunshine.
“Firstly, we hope to keep the trophy here. It’s a battle for the top prize and we have won it consecutively in the past,” he said. “My team is ready to battle, we slipped to third place last year but we are ready to get back to the top.”
A tough test awaits Sunshine from Orapa Bowls Club who are the national champions. Orapa will also be buoyed by the presence of national team skipper, Kitso Robert who has been blowing hot in continental competitions. Robert recently led the fours team to gold in the men’s section at the African States Championships held in Johannesburg.
The 23-year-old Carlos Tigere of team Jumbo from Selebi-Phikwe will also be another player to look out for. The young Tigere recently represented the country at an international bowls tournament in Brisbane, Australia where he helped his team achieve a top 10 finish.
Botswana Bowling Association spokesperson, John Gaborutwe said they are expecting close to 50 players. Gaborutwe said the locals carry too much firepower for their regional counterparts.
“It’s going to be an interesting competition. We have our national team players plus the competitions among local clubs have intensified in the recent past. I see the trophy remaining in the country.”
The tournament has this year received sponsorship from Dynamic Distributors, Eurolux, Famshir Electrical Wholesalers, Hellermann Tyton, Impact Investments, DES’S Electrical Center, Kya Sands Transport, Makita Power Tools, Minjex Enterprises, NTT Francistown Nissan, Nortex Mills, Regal Export, TECSA Aplliance Parts and Universal Holdings.