13 Jun 2023

Botswana Bowling Association (BBA) is appealing for sponsorship for its upcoming international tournaments.

Speaking at the end of the Orapa Major Trophy tournament on Saturday, BBA president, Kitso Robert, appealed to companies or individuals to financially assist Botswana bowling clubs that would be participating in tournaments in Namibia, Australia and Cyprus.

Robert said funds availability was a major problem and a limiting factor when it came to sport development.

He said sport was demanding, while funding by the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) was not enough, therefore there was need for clubs to raise own  funds.

The BBA president also highlighted that lack of funds would eventually kill the sport and demoralise bowling players.

Nonetheless, Robert commended Earthridge Engineering Solutions for sponsoring Orapa Major Trophy tournament at the tune of P7 500.

Earthridge Engineering Solutions is a 100 per cent citizen owned company contracted in Orapa mine. Orapa Major Trophy tournament, Robert said, never had a sponsorship before.

“This partnership means a lot to us as Botswana Bowling Association. Thank you for giving us the support and we hope it will go a long way and make Orapa Major Trophy a better tournament,” he said.

Participating clubs in the Orapa Major Trophy were Francistown, Selebi Phikwe, Gaborone, Orapa and Jwaneng bowling clubs.

Fourteen teams, comprising men and women battled it out in a tough encounter where teams had to play three required games to accumulate points.

The hosts, Orapa club, made of Kitso Robert, Kabelo Motshabi, Gape Rapula and Edwin Nyoka scooped position one, with nine points and 45 shots.

Therefore, it received P4 000 prize money and a trophy. The team won all the three games.

In position two, was Gaborone club with six points and 25 shots. The team comprised Kabo Gaboutloeloe, Kefilwe Moleleki, Gaone Gontse and Chinky Sinombe.

The team walked away with P3 000.

Francistown club came third with six points and 16 shots.

The team was made of Baven Balendra, Geoffrey Nicholls, Violet Wheatley and James Terblanche, and they got P2 000 prize money.

Position four went to Selebi Phikwe and they were given P1 000.

The team comprised Diane Senna, Nelly Senna, Khumo Kebalatetse and Derek Van Walt. They scored six points and eight shots.  ENDS