Butale hails juniors' in Zone Six squad
Thato Kala | Friday January 31, 2014 16:21
Butale hails juniors' in Zone Six squad
THATO KALA
Correspondent
C
aptain of the national women table tennis team Boitshwarelo Butale has hailed the inclusion of four junior players in the side for the Confederation of Southern African Table Tennis Associations Zone Six games to be hosted by Zambia. Olorato Ramagapu (17) and Ludo Ishmael (15) have been included in the women team, while Peo Thebe (17) and Bakang Maloka (16) are in the men's squad.
The quartet is part of the upcoming Africa Youth Games to be hosted in Gaborone. Butale believes the exposure the players will get in Lusaka will be handy when they take part in the Africa Youth Games.
'When you expose them to this level of competition at this age, it is really good. I never got such exposure because those were hard times. I had to beat the older players to make it into the national team. But there are tournaments for Under-18s nowadays, which is good for them,' she said.
Butale is confident that despite the inclusion of the juniors, Botswana will put up a strong challenge in Lusaka. She expects the youngsters to adapt to well.
'I think we will be competitive, even in future, these youngsters will know how the game is played at international level. They will be able to hold their own against international opponents,' she said. Her target is to bring home a gold medal.
Butale is the most experienced in the women's side that also has the likes of Tshepiso Rebatenne.
Joseph Kgatlampane, winner of the Gaborone Open, last week will captain the men's team in the Zone Six event.
Six countries have confirmed participation in the four-day tournament to be held at the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka.
Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and hosts Zambia are the other participating countries besides Botswana.
The hosts have the biggest squad, as they will field 22 players while Botswana is taking 10 players to the tournament. The Zone Six tournament was last held in South Africa in 2009.
Olorato Ramagapu (17) and Ludo Ishmael (15) have been included in the women team, while Peo Thebe (17) and Bakang Maloka (16) are in the men's squad. The quartet is part of the upcoming Africa Youth Games to be hosted in Gaborone. Butale believes the exposure the players will get in Lusaka will be handy when they take part in the Africa Youth Games.
'When you expose them to this level of competition at this age, it is really good. I never got such exposure because those were hard times. I had to beat the older players to make it into the national team. But there are tournaments for Under-18s nowadays, which is good for them,' she said.Butale is confident that despite the inclusion of the juniors, Botswana will put up a strong challenge in Lusaka. She expects the youngsters to adapt to well. 'I think we will be competitive, even in future, these youngsters will know how the game is played at international level. They will be able to hold their own against international opponents,' she said. Her target is to bring home a gold medal.Butale is the most experienced in the women's side that also has the likes of Tshepiso Rebatenne.
Joseph Kgatlampane, winner of the Gaborone Open, last week will captain the men's team in the Zone Six event.Six countries have confirmed participation in the four-day tournament to be held at the Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka.Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and hosts Zambia are the other participating countries besides Botswana. The hosts have the biggest squad, as they will field 22 players while Botswana is taking 10 players to the tournament. The Zone Six tournament was last held in South Africa in 2009.