Dreams come true for Mphotho, Pelemo
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday May 25, 2024 06:00
Mphotho emerged with a gold medal after beating one of the most decorated bowlers, Baven Balendra of Francistown Club with a score of 9-6, 11-6. The 29-year-old joined bowling in 2016 during his stay in Jwaneng. “One of the coaches, Makolwane Mantsima invited me to practice through my mother. It was just a casual talk between the two elders and during that time, the Jwaneng Club needed to develop young players. He introduced me to the sport and the same year I played in my first competition, which was the national league that we clinched after winning pairs and the singles (but) losing out in the fours,” he said during an interview with MmegiSport after his victory. He said during the national league, he pairs with Boitumelo Mosinyi. In 2017, Mphotho criss-crossed the country to join the Phikwe Bowling Club.
Mphotho said at his new club, he started working with George Keini. “Upon arrival it was difficult. I failed to make the podium finish but I did not give up. In 2018, I came with guns blazing, getting a silver medal in the Fours during the BBA National Championship. I went on to win a gold medal in the Under-25 Youth Singles tournament in 2018 and another silver in Triples during the 2019 national championships,” he said. Mphotho said his hard work earned him a spot in the fours team that brought a silver medal from the 2024 Zimbabwe National Championship. His other teammates during the Fours were Keini, Kitso Mmunyane and Carlos Tigere. He said winning the 2024 Singles title is the highlight of his career. “It has been an interesting journey so far. Preparing for the 2024 National Championship was not easy. As you might be aware, since the closure of the BCL Mine, our greens collapsed. But despite the challenge we face as a club, we won the Francistown Major. So the only preparation I did was just to jog along the road,” he said. Mphotho plays with Drakes Pride Bowls. He said by being the national champion, he has qualified for the World Bowls Champion of Champions, which needs special preparations. The Bobonong native said bowling is an expensive sport because it comes with a lot of travelling but he has been fortunate to get support from Keini who has also hired him.
For his part, Keini said Mphotho is a disciplined and hard-working player. “When I met him when he arrived in Phikwe, he was a good bowler but never got much exposure. We then formed a duo and wherever I went to play, I took him along for the exposure and experience. With time, he has become a very good bowler and by winning the national singles, he has proved to me and himself that being a champion can be achieved,” said the proud coach. Keini revealed that he did not expect Mphotho to win the title because he was third in the club Singles but won the title undefeated. “’Dizza’ as we call him, is able to withstand the pressure. When we went to the Zimbabwe nationals, he had little fear of the unexpected but that soon died away as we beat more and more teams to attain a silver medal in the Fours. He is a hard worker and I would play alongside him anywhere, anytime,” Keini said.
Meanwhile, Pelemo scooped the gold medal by beating Boikhutso Mooketsi of Jwaneng Club with a convincing score of 4-9, 10-6, 3-1 to become the 2014 women’s singles champion. “I was introduced to bowling by a friend in 2009. It was just for social bowls. I knew nothing about bowling then. I enjoyed it and I never looked back. I then officially joined in 2010,” she said. The Shoshong-born Pelemo made her national team debut in 2016 during the African States Tournament (AST) in Harare, Zimbabwe. She then played for the national team again in 2018 at the Quadrangular Tournament in Windhoek, Namibia. Pelemo said she had another shot in the national team that competed at the 2023 AST held in Windhoek, winning a gold medal in the Women’s Triples. Still, in 2023, she was part of the team that competed at the World Bowls Championship in Gold Coast Australia. “I am currently playing with Hanselite XG bowls. I enjoy playing all bowling disciplines. The spirit of playing bowls is what motivates me a lot. There is sport etiquette at bowling and we consider ourselves a family. Before bowls, I was a softball player,” she said.
Pelemo explained that being the national singles champion is an honour because it has been one of her biggest ambitions for years. She said gearing up for the tournament, she practised and conducted weekly assessments. “Booking a ticket for the World Bowls Champion of Champions means a lot to me, I will prepare for it by participating in all national tournaments and doing assessments,” she said. Pelemo admitted that bowling is an expensive sport and she is lucky to be playing for Jwaneng, as the club is sponsored by Debswana. “I am part of the team that would be representing the country at the AST scheduled for September in Orapa. Representing the country in my own backyard means a lot to me and would motivate me to work harder so as to make my country proud,” she said. Pelemo’s role model is Scottish player, Alex Marshall, a record breaking six-time World Indoor singles champion.
FACT FILES
Full name: Modisaotsile ‘Dizza’ Mphotho Place of birth: Bobonong Date of birth: September 23, 1995 Sport: Bowls Hobbies: Watching Manchester United and Kaizer Chiefs Favourite meal: Pap and beef stew Role model: The late Ray Mascarenhas
Full name: Gaoromelwe ‘Mpopi’ Pelemo Place of birth: Shoshong Sport: Bowls Hobbies: Bowling, family gatherings, and travel Favourite meal: Pork ribs with roasted vegetables Role model: Alex Marshall