16 May 2023

Francistown Bowling Club, in conjunction with Botswana Bowling Association (BBA), is hosting a week-long tournament to mark the 46th anniversary of the national lawn bowls championships.

Speaking at the official opening of the tournament on behalf of the Assistant Minister of Youth, Gender, Sports and Culture, Buti Billy, Francistown youth coordinator, Tiny Tamasiga-Gontse said bowling in Botswana was showing signs of growth.

For instance, she said last year Botswana sent two players; Eddie Nyoka and Marea Modutlwa, to the singles Champion of Champions.

“As we speak now, we have sent a man and a woman to the indoor singles championships in Australia who are self-sponsoring. They are not the first ones to self-sponsor, it is a norm in the association to open up international tournaments to those who can afford to self-sponsor,” she added.

In 2019, Tamasiga-Gontse said, a team of five men and four women represented Botswana at the World Bowls Championships qualifiers in Wales.  

She, therefore, commended the women fours team for attaining the eighth position at the last Commonwealth Games.

“They also performed exceptionally well at the African States tournament held in Kenya; bringing home Gold in the fours, Silver in the pairs and Bronze in the singles in 2019.

All recognised this outstanding performance as evidenced by the nomination of the fours team comprising Tshenolo Moshokgo, Marea Modutlwa, Boikhutso Mooketsi and Lesego Motladiele and their Coach Gase Pabalelo for the team of the year at the inaugural Women and Sports Awards (WASBO) awards,” she said.  

The coordinator further explained that government had a lean budget to support all the sporting codes, but through the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC) government would continue to support sporting codes whenever possible.

Francistown deputy mayor, Lesego Kwambala, thanked the organisers for hosting an event of such a magnitude in Francistown, saying it showed that the second city could host even bigger events.

He said the leadership of Francistown had always wanted the city to not only be a hub for commerce but also a hub for sporting activities including bowling.
Kwambala said hosting various sporting events helped grow the city’s economy.

In this regard, the deputy mayor promised that the office of the mayor was ready to support any activity that made the city of Francistown spring to life.

President of BBA, Kitso Robert, said the year 2023 was a special one, which required exceptional performance as it gave partakers an opportunity to compete in various international competitions.

He explained that the winners of the singles, both men and women, would compete at the World Champions of Champions billed for Australia next year.

Robert further extended his special thanks to Botswana National Sports Council, National Champions Sponsor, chairpersons of all bowling clubs and Francistown Bowls Club for the effort put forward in making the bowling tournament a success.

He also indicated that the national championships remained one of the most prestigious events in Botswana’s bowling calendar as it gave all participants an opportunity to be national heroes.

The chairperson of Francistown Bowls Club, Bala Balandra said it was a great honour for the club to host the tournament, adding that he felt privileged for Francistown to be the host of the national championships.

The tournament will Saturday with prize giving ceremony and the announcement of the teams to represent Botswana in Australia. The participating teams are Selebi Phikwe, Francistown,

Gaborone, Orapa and Jwaneng. The main partners of the tournament are Toyota Botswana and Kopano Copper who sponsored the tournament to the tune of P15 000 and P55 000 respectively. Ends