READY FOR ACTION: Bowling team

Tri Holdings Company held a bowling Family Fun Day tournament over the weekend in Francis town.

The tournament attracted thirty players who made three teams of three players each.

This tournament’s aim was to promote the growth of bowling in the second city as there is only one club. Bowling is not a popular sport in Botswana.

There are only five teams in the country and expatriates make the core of most teams.

Speaking to Voice Sport Botswana Bowling Association Secretary General Charmaine Hassel said their aim is to introduce the sport in schools this year.

She said in Jwaneng they have started scouting players in senior school to make a development team.

“As the Association we will do what we can to promote the sport, run workshops for teachers so that they can coach children.

We are really concerned about the number of players who take part in this sport so we hope the tournament will help us to identify some talent.

This sport is very cheap for development we will buy mats to play indoor games in schools since we do not have facilities,” said Hassel.

46 year old Chairman of Francistown Club Bowlers Mike Tearnan from South Africa said he started playing bowling when he was 25 years.

He said there are few bowlers in Botswana because the sport is not popular and applauded the association for introducing it in schools.

“Most of the youngsters play and like football and we are under pressure to promote the game. Bowling is a sport that has no age limit and because it is not a contact sport it is injury free.

Last year the association introduced the league and so far we are the strongest team being the defending champions,” he said.

Sponsor of the tournament Baven Balendra was impressed by the turn up for the games.

He said their company also had a chance to showcase their products.

“Lack of facilities make it difficult for the growth of sport, it is expensive to maintain the ground.

The pitch has special grass and it cannot be used for other sports as it will be damaged,” he said.

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