FRANCISTOWN: The Botswana Games hosts, Francistown, stamped their authority on the opening day of the eight-day competition as they became the first team to win a gold medal.
Team Francistown dominated on Sunday as their swimmers had a good day in the pool, coming out tops in the 100 metres (m) breast stroke girls and boys, 100m freestyle girls and boys and in the 100m backstroke boys. The team scooped 12 medals in the process; five gold, six silver and one bronze.
Francistown’s 16-year-old, Ivis Matthew, was the best swimmer in the boys section, winning two gold and one silver medal.
Gaborone was second after the opening day with four medals; one gold and four bronze medals, followed by Selebi-Phikwe and Kweneng with one bronze each.
Meanwhile, in other codes, Central started well in basketball as their girls beat North East 86-33, Jwaneng saw off the hosts 38-24, Gaborone won 49-29 against Gantsi and Selebi-Phikwe emerged 59-26 victorious over Kweneng.
In the boys section, Central hammered Jwaneng 51-42, Selebi-Phikwe beat Gantsi 73-51, while Francistown went down 42-37 to North East and Lobatse demolished Kgatleng 111-8.
In softball, Central beat Kgatleng 17-7, Francistown won 8-6 against South East, Jwaneng cruised past Selebi-Phikwe 15-2 and North West hammered Southern 10-4.
Chobe are proving strong in volleyball. They drew 3-3 with Kgatleng and walloped the hosts 3-0; the Kgatleng side also beat Selebi-Phikwe by the same margin while Francistown won 3-2 against Southern.
Central football men’s team beat North East 3-0, Lobatse beat Selebi-Phikwe 2-1 while Francistown and Southern played to a goalless draw. It also ended scoreless in the game between Kweneng and South East.
In women’s football, Francistown whipped Selebi-Phikwe 9-0, Kweneng beat South East 2-0, Central overcame Gaborone 2-0 while Kgalagadi dismissed Southern by a solitary goal.
Other Sunday results
Badminton: Central 5-0 Selebi-Phikwe; North East 3-2 South East; Southern 3-2 Kgalagadi; Jwaneng 2-0 Chobe; Francistown 5-0 North West; Lobatse 4-1 Gaborone; Sowa 4-1 Gantsi; Kweneng 3-2 Kgatleng.
Yesterday
Football Girls
Southern 0 Gaborone 0
Kgalagadi 0 Central 0
S/Phikwe 2 South East 3
Kweneng 0 Francistown 0
Netball
Francistown 36 Kweneng 14
Basketball
Gaborone 28 Central 32
Lobatse 44 Central 35
Volleyball Boys Pool B
Southern 2 Francistown 3
Phikwe 0 Kgatleng 3
Chobe 3 Francistown 3
