07 Oct 2024

It has been a poor start for Botswana at the ITF/CAT 12 and under Africa Team competition finals as they lost their opening match against Tunisia.

In the boys category Number two singles Francesco Brink lost 6-0, 6-0 to Lahmar Youseff. Atlhough Brink started well, he could not handle his opponents serves, which proved too hot to handle.

In his response, the local lad got frustrated and lost his fighting spirit, giving his opponent a chance to have a field day. Brink said in an interview said Youseff played better than him, but promised that he would improve in the coming matches.

In the girls category, Rerotlhe Kganyeng lost 6-4, 6-1 to Paulo Ouko of Kenya, a game that she should have not lost had she  stuck to her plan. Kgannyeng dominated the first set, but decided to hit long balls, which did not benefit her.

In an interview she said that she played well but was let down by her plan, which did not work out.

"First set, I did fight, but it was in the second set that I committed many forced errors, but it’s a learning curve,”,she said

.In other matches Nkolo Divine of Cameroon won 6-0,6-0 against Khalil Muthanii of Kenya. A total of 11 countries are competing in the team competition finals, the format is round robin, and top two teams of each pool progresses to the knock out semi-finals.

Botswana team is made up of Malak Macheng, Kgannyeng, Camilla Seetso in the girls category and they are coached by Kelebogile Monnayoo. The boys team consists of Rosisang Obuseng, Moshe Lekaukau, Brink and the team is coached by Brighton Keteng. ENDS