Squash juniors off to Easterns Open

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Friday May 24, 2013 00:00

The team heads off to Kempton Park this morning to participate in the annual regional tournament. National team coaches Moses Tshiamonyana and Titus Mlalazi have selected the cream of junior squash in the country.

The coaches have added a few players to the team that travelled to Namibia for the All Africa Championships in March.Six of them are from Francistown Squash Club with talented Jwaneng Racket Club duo of Theo Pelonomi and Ashante Tabengwa also making the trip.

Antonio Tawana and Aone Motlhankanyana of Gaborone's Stadium Squash Club, as well as Selebi-Phikwe trio of Thabang Ditshupo, Kabo Joseph and Ephraim Motlhaping are also in the squad.National team manager, Conrad Ntshebe said the tournament was part of their junior development training circuit. 'It falls under one of the events we attend to develop and fast track our juniors while also giving them the necessary exposure,' Ntshebe told Mmegi Sport.

He said the idea was to have a large pool of experienced junior players, hence the decision to add a few more players to the team that played at the All Africa Championships. The tournament starts late today and ends on Sunday. Ntshebe said participation in the All Africa tournament had positively impacted the youngsters.  'They are pretty motivated since coming from All Africa Champs. I think being exposed to that kind of squash has changed their attitude. I do little talking during training sessions because they are self-motivated.'

Ntshebe is confident a number of the youngsters have what it takes to follow in the footsteps of United States-based squash star, Alister Walker.Meanwhile, the World number 14, Walker, fell to former British Open champion Gregory Gaultier at the 2013 campaign on Tuesday.

The Frenchman dispatched the Botswana star in straight sets 11-6, 11-9, and 11-1.Walker carries the country's hopes at next month's World Championships in France.