Bowling runs in Francistown family

GALE NGAKANE
Correspondent | Friday August 13, 2010 00:00

 

Her daughter, 24-year-old, diminutive Shenilla Mahomed is a keen bowler.

'I have got about one and half years in the sport and I am loving every minute of it. I have been involved in competitions, but the most memorable one was at the beginning of this year when we (Francistown) won a gold medal,' she says.

The venue was Selebi-Phikwe and there were four teams, Gaborone, Jwaneng, Orapa and Lobatse that the Francistown side was up against. The bowler, who won Francistown the gold was Shenilla's younger brother, Daiyaan. He was up against a champion from South Africa, Trevor Frost who was expected to cruise through. But Daiyaan proved a hard nut to crack and eventually triumphed over the seasoned campaigner.

'Whether it was because Frost was off form on the day or not we do not know, but in the end, Daiyaan was the winner. It was a really happy moment for the family and the team,' says Shenilla nostalgically.

Apparently, the family gravitated towards bowling as there seemed to be nothing else to do during spare time in Francistown. It began as a social outing where they would engage in tame competition with other bowling enthusiasts, but they elevated their game to active participation.

'Bowling is more like chess. You must practice doing the hard shots. A person must concentrate, focus and generally be in a stable mental state,' says Shenilla.

Her mother, Charmaine says it is her passion to try and draw youngsters to the sport. 'We are trying. To date, our youngest player is 11-years-old. We have got other youngsters. We are trying to dispel the notion that this is a sport for the elderly and rich. Anyone can play it,' she says.

Charmaine, who has been playing the sport for three years says it takes up to 30 years for a person to be considered an expert in the game.

But she hastens to add that raw talent can play a decisive role. She gave the example of her son Daiyaan who conquered a professional at the Selebi-Phikwe meeting.

The family, who originates from Zimbabwe, have been in Botswana for more than a decade and are in the process of applying for citizenship.

Shenilla came to Botswana when she was 14 years, while her younger brother, Daiyaan attends college in Gaborone where he is said to be making sensational waves in bowling circles.

'We would love very much to be included in the national team, but the problem is that we are not yet citizens. As for Daiyaan, the national selectors cannot wait to include him in the squad because he is so good,' says Charmaine.

'We have talent in abundance, but Daiyaan is super,' she boasts.

Bowling has been growing in popularity world-wide and Botswana has consistently participated in international competitions. Today, bowling is enjoyed by 95 million people in more than 90 countries. The game continues to grow through entertainment media such as video games for home consoles and hand held devices.