The Rhodes trophy is awarded to the overall winner of the national championships, which the Gaborone club has now won 18 times since their inception over 45 years ago. Gaborone was taking over the title from Francistown who won it last year.
Gaborone won the Women’s Pairs (Lesego Motladiile and Chinky Sinombe), Women’s Triples (Lebogang Makhupe, Auleria Fuller and Chakale Robert), Men’s Triples (Ookeditse Lekang, Dennis Olaotse and Rorisang Montsho), and Women’s Fours through Gaborone A team (Marea Modutlwa, Fuller, Robert and Sinombe).
The Women’s Fours silver medal was snatched by Gaborone B team that comprised of Makhupe, Kefiloe Moleleki, Shenilla Mahomed and Motladiile. Motladiile of Gaborone club was voted the women’s player of the tournament and Baven Balendra of Francistown walked away as the men’s player of the tournament.
The two players were winning the awards two years in a row. In an interesting Men’s Singles final, rising star, Modisaotsile ‘Diza’ Mphotho of Phikwe Bowls Club became the national champion after beating seasoned bowler, Balendra of Francistown club 9-6, 11-6. The bronze match was won by Kaizer Geche of Orapa beating his fellow teammate, Edwin Nyoka 8-3, 10-5. The women’s singles champion is Mpopi Pelemo of Jwaneng with her teammate, Boikhutso Mooketsi coming second and Tshenolo Moshokgo settling for the third spot. Francistown team of Balendra, Jonno Evans, Geoff Evans and James Terblanche are the Men’s Fours champions. Speaking to SportMonitor, Mphotho said he was excited to be the national champion for the first time in his life. “When I reached the final, my plan was to go out there and enjoy my game.
I did not expect to pull a win from Balendra. He is a coach and has played for the national team for many years. Preparing for this tournament was not easy because we do not have greens in Selebi-Phikwe. All I had to do was to jog in order to stay fit. We played two sets and I won both of them during the final,” he said. Mphotho said the win means he has qualified for the World Champion of Champions to be held next year and there is need to play more bowls. The BBA spokesperson, Ookeditse Lekang, said the national championships were a success, having played Fours discipline in the previous weekend with the finals held on the last day of the tournament.
“We had our Singles during the week up to Wednesday, which were won by Mphotho and Pelemo. The Pairs and Triples disciplines were played at the same time. The Gaborone club scored all the points after their dominance over various categories in both men and women to be the overall winners after finishing in the second position last year. We saw a beautiful play by young players such as Mphotho who started playing bowls in 2017 right here at the Jwaneng Bowls Club before moving to Phikwe. Remember that this is our Re Ba Bona Ha Centre,” Lekang said. He said another youngster who trains in Jwaneng was roped in to play after late withdrawal for the third place match between Gaborone and Jwaneng. He said another surprise winner is Pelemo who won her first Singles title. Meanwhile, Botswana is hosting the African States Tournament (AST) in August.
Lekang said the outcome of the national championships is an indication that positive results should be expected. He said national team players used the tournament as part of preparations for AST. “There has been good support from the private sector during our tournament especially the Debswana Mining Company who provided us with the facility,” he added.
Other results: Men’s Pairs: Gold medalists: Orapa B (Kitso Robert and Kabelo Motshabi). Silver: Orapa A (Geche and Nyoka). Bronze: Jwaneng (Charles Diteko and Bingo Mosarwa). Women’s Triples: Silver: Orapa (Deliwe Kitsiso, Onkokame Podisi and Francinah Mothobi). Bronze: Francistown (Charmaine Hassen, Mymoona Armstrong and Francina Terblanche). Men’s Triples: Silver: Jwaneng (Regent Reid, Lennart Mantsima and Sam Ramatopi). Bronze: Orapa (Abe Sikwane, Boago Galeboe and Philip Toteng). Women’s Fours: Bronze: Jwaneng (Mooketsi, Lesedi Mafoko, Malebogo Koorotse and Portia Tsietso). Men’s Fours: Silver: Phikwe (Diane Senna, Khumo Kebalatetse, Michael Gabobewe and Kudzani Chaba). Bronze: Jwaneng (Diteko, Joshua Mothusi, Joseph Koorotse and Marvin Lefakae).
