Botswana’s junior table tennis team demonstrated their competitive spirit at the recent Johannesburg Table Tennis Association (JTTA) Open Championships, held from April 26th to 28th. The five-member squad returned home with an impressive medal haul of one gold and three silvers, signaling promising progress ahead of the upcoming AUSC Region 5 Games in Namibia.
Coached by Nigerian international Omoniyi A. Dedotun and local coach Collin Dzvaka, the team utilized the JTTA Open as a crucial performance indicator before the AUSC Games, scheduled for July 3rd to 14th. The tournament also provided an opportunity to assess the impact of Dedotun’s coaching since his arrival two months prior, tasked with fine-tuning the young athletes.
In the under-13 girls’ singles category, Boitlamo Nkele secured a silver medal after a hard-fought final against South Africa’s Tamika Van As. The boys’ singles final was an all-Botswana affair, with Reneilwe Lekorwe emerging victorious and teammate Tinashe Dzvaka taking the silver. The duo of Nkele and Carol David further contributed to Botswana’s medal count with a silver in the under-13 mixed doubles.
Dedotun expressed satisfaction with the team’s development in his role of building a competitive junior squad. “We are very happy with the performance of the team,” he told Voice Sport. “They performed exceptionally well, which indicates the training camp was effective. When I began coaching them, most had only basic skills. Now, they are showing significant potential.”
However, he also highlighted areas needing further refinement: “To consistently convert these silver medals into gold, the junior players need to enhance their teamwork, body coordination, top spin techniques, and develop a greater variety of shots during matches.”
Looking forward, Dedotun remains optimistic about the future of Botswana table tennis. “We are cultivating a new generation of players capable of representing Botswana on larger platforms, including the Olympics. The dedication shown by these juniors is truly inspiring,” he added.
The performance at the JTTA Open underscored South Africa’s continued strength as a regional rival, positioning their players as valuable benchmarks for Botswana’s emerging talent. Armed with the experience gained, the team hopes to be better prepared to challenge regional dominance at the AUSC Games in Namibia.
While the team returned home on Tuesday, their campaign in South Africa is not entirely concluded. Some members have stayed behind to participate in the Umgungundlovu Table Tennis Open, scheduled for May 1st to 3rd in Pietermaritzburg.
