16 Dec 2024

Botswana Tennis Association (BTA) has announced the team that will represent the country at the ITF/CAT Southern African Junior Team competition pencilled for Namibia in January. 

The team was selected after an extensive training camp held in Gaborone recently to select the top three in both boys and girls categories. 

In the girls 14 and under, there is on form Malak Macheng, Angel Chakanyuka, Camilla Seetso and Rerotlhe Kgannyeng as an alternate.

The boys 14 and under is made up of Tinashe Phatshwane, Kgotso Kejakang, Lebone Tlape and Rorisang Obuseng as alternate.

Bashali Phatshwane, Ditshegofatso Bapaletswe, Nelisiwe Tsima have made it to the girls 16 and under while Jemima Makhumalo is an alternate. 

The boys 16 and under has Reagile Diraditsile, Tyson Anderson, Kefentse Lekaukau and the alternate will be Kabo Kedisang. 

BTA president Oaitse Thipe said in an interview that they were confident that they were sending a formidable team that would be representing the country with pride.  

He said the team would compete in individual competitions and team events to qualify for Africa Junior Championships.

 “The exciting part is to see players from other villages, where they train in dilapidated facilities making it to the national team,” he said.  

That, he demonstrated that during the selection camp, showed diverse talent and that tennis was growing.

 Furthermore, Thipe said the team was diverse in the sense that there were many players from Francistown, two players from Moeng College and the other are from Gaborone. 

He said expectations were that the association would continue to discover players from other regions.  

The team will be under the tutelage of Wellington Sibanda and Kelebogile Monnayoo and will leave on January 8 for Namibia. ENDS