05 Dec 2023

Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA) Under 11 team has brought home four medals from the recent 2023 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Southern Africa Hopes and Challenge Week, which ended in Windhoek, Namibia on Friday.

The quartet of Reneilwe Lekorwe, Tinashe Dzvaka, Tshegofatso Buisanang and Boitlamo Nkele displayed good performance thereby scooping some medals.

In the boys’ category, Lekorwe finished second while Dzvaka finished fourth getting bronze.

On the girls’ side, Nkele finished overall in third, scooping a bronze while Buisanang finished fifth.

Giving an analysis of the tournament, assistant coach Boitshwarelo Butale, who also participated in the Gender My Strength ITTF programme that was running concurrently with the tournament, said Lekorwe was faced with a mammoth task as he had to overcome two of his greatest rivals.

Butale said sometime this year, Lekorwe met the duo of Zaeem Dadakar and Adam Domingo at the Southern Championships where he lost 0-3 in both matches played against the two.

However, Butale said the hardworking and determined Lekorwe then worked on his mistakes and was determined to turn the tables.

“We carefully studied both players to determine their weaknesses,” she said.

Butale said Lekorwe’s game had improved his play as he lost 1-3 against the South African Junior Champion (Zaeem) and later lost 2-3 against Domingo in his final match.

Butale said Dzvaka finished fourth on the boys’ category after winning four and losing three of his seven matches at the championships.

He said Dzvaka lost the three matches against his team mate Lekorwe and the two South Africans; Zaeem and Domingo.

Nkele lost two games against South Africans; Phoki Esinayo and Tamika Van As from the seven that she has played, therefore finishing third overall.

Butale, who is one of BTTA development coaches, also added that despite finishing fifth overall, Buisanyang also proved her mettle as she managed to get two wins for her seven matches.

“As a coach, I am impressed with their performance. I also believe that the week-long coaching clinic conducted by ITTF coach Bello Nusiro from Nigeria as well as the support from other coaches has provided the players with some valuable techniques and confidence towards the game.

“The training camp has been effective. The young players acclimatised quickly and responded well to all the challenges. I am hopeful that moving forward they will surely use the skills that were imparted on them and better their game in the future,” said coach Butale.

She said she was impressed by the opportunity that the players were offered by BTTA to partake in the championship.

“They needed all the exposure to better their game. As coaches we ensured that our players have full support during the tournament,” she said.

Coach Tshepiso Rebatenne, who was called to stand in for Godirileone Bagwasi said the team performed exceptionally well.

“Currently, we have strong ongoing grass roots development programmes under BTTA with training centres at Bontleng, Gaborone West and other Re Ba Bona Ha centres across the country, where the junior players are engaged in acquiring valuable skills of table tennis,” said Rebatenne. Ends