The local junior team is gearing up to compete in the International Tennis Federation (ITF)/ Confederation of African Tennis (CAT) Southern African junior individual and teams championships for 14 and 16 year olds.
The championships will be hosted in Windhoek, Namibia from January 6 until 14.
Botswana Tennis Association (BTA) president, Oaitse Thipe told MmegiOnline that the team attended the first training camp between December 9 and 13 in Gaborone. He said training will continue in Francistown and Gaborone this week, followed by the final camp set for January 3 to 5 in Gaborone.
“The team travels to Windhoek on January 5. “We believe this is a strong team that is going there to compete, not to add numbers. “A vigorous selection process was carried out so that we picked the best that we had in the pool,” he said.
Thipe said Botswana has always had an edge during such competitions and all that the team has to do is to continue the legacy.
He said one player, Ekua Refilwe Youri, lost her first professional match in the ITF women’s $25, 000 game that was played in Kenya recently. He said Youri currently plays for the University of San Antonio in Texas.
The teams: Boys Under 14 years: Martin Seetso, Tinashe Phatshwane and Marcus Semane Girls Under 14: Malak Macheng, Angel Chakanyuka and Rerotlhe Kgannyeng Boys Under 16: Kgatlego Regoeng, Reagile Diraditsile and Tyson Anderson Girls Under 16: Bashalli Phatshwane, Mbali Qame and Retshabile Moshaoa Coaches: Brighton Keteng and Kelebogile Monnayoo
