Cheerleading optimistic ahead of World Championships
Despite time constraints ruining their selection plans, Botswana Cheerleading Federation (BCF) insist Tuesday’s auditions were a roaring success.
Originally, the trials were to be used for selecting a national team for next year’s World Championships in Florida, USA.
However, due to the high turnout, not everyone was able to try-out.
Confirming this in a brief chat with Voice Sport, BCF President, Neo Sellwe revealed, “We focused much on senior team categories because they came in numbers but we did not complete the auditions with the selections and have agreed that we will do them from the results we already have.”
Instead, the Federation will now use performance from last year’s National Championships as the basis for picking the squad.
Stressing this was all above board, Sellwe said, “People should not be worried about any misjudgements because we are professionals and we will be dictated about how each cheerleader have fared.”
Indeed, far from worrying, the BCF leader is oozing with optimism that Botswana will have strong representation at the World’s, set for 23-25 April.
“I am happy about the attendance [at the auditions]. It was quite good and gave confidence that we will definitely be having many representatives at the Championships,” she declared.
Assessing the talent on display, a satisfied Sellwe stated, “I noticed that boys were a bit better than girls in some key areas of this sport whereas girls were impressive in dancing, which is always a norm.”
As for matters of the pocket, the President admitted the fight to grow Cheerleading in the country was hampered by a lack of funds.
“Cheerleading is an unpopular sport in the local ranks, so we are still hoping to get financial aid in order to grow this sport. We wish to attend a few preparatory tournaments in South Africa, Nigeria and Canada and that is going to depend on getting financial support.”