It has been a challenge across the local junior teams where coaches and teachers have to contend with the school versus sports dilemma. Speaking to MmegiSport this week, the BTTA's public relations officer, Tshegofatso Malepa, said the federation has strategically placed the junior Diteemane training camps on school off days to allow the junior athletes time to balance the two. "At the moment we have afforded our athletes enough time to do their work. At this point in time, there had not been any incidents of struggles with school work as our camps were strategically made during the school holidays in order to afford students enough time to do school work and go to training after work," said Malepa. The BTTA will on July 15-21 host the continental showpiece in Gaborone at the Botho University Hall.
The team will feature the Under-15 and Under-19 age groups and will compete in the team events, mixed doubles, doubles and singles. The BTTA has appointed Godirileone Bagwasi as the head coach for the junior teams while Brown Sebokolodi is the head coach for the Under-19 boys. Diteemane head coach, Boitshwarelo Butale, has been given the Under-15 girls coaching role while Joseph Kgatlampane is the head coach for the Under-19 boys team. Maikano Table Tennis Club's head coach, Solly Tsiaka, oversees the Under-19 girls' team. The Under-15 and Under-19 teams will convene for the final training camp during the academic calendar's mid-term break, less than a week before the start of the ITTF-Africa Youth Championship. "The next camp will be during the mid-term break. As we currently have school going kids in the national team. In terms of progress, we are at 70% delivery (and) that will be the last camp as it will be just a few days until the event," said Malepa.
Full team lists :
Under-15 Boys: Reneilwe Lekorwe (Smash Maniacs), Thato Kgongwana (Bontleng/Ithuteng), Kgotla Thebeyame (Mabeleapodi Re Ba Bona Ha), and Gofaone Dzvaka (Bontleng/Ithuteng)
Under-15 Girls: Gabriella Tsiaka, Lillian Tsiaka (both Maikano JSS), Kgotso Kooetsere (Mabeleapodi Re Ba Bona Ha), and Boitlamo Nkele (Bontleng/Ithuteng)
Under-19 Boys: Tebogelo Dipebe, Tebogo Kotopo (both Mabeleapodi Re Ba Bona Ha), Kgosi Kabelo (Kopong JSS), and Aobakwe Sebetela (Maikano JSS)
Under-19 Girls: Masa Motlhabane, Asante Motsamai (both Maikano JSS), Briannah Mogalagadi, Tshegofatso Buisanang (both Bontleng/Ithuteng), and Charity Moleele (University of Botswana)
