Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA) top seeds
Tshenolo Mooketsi and
Boago Malobela are eyeing Phoenix Life-Changing P25 000 price award.SPORTSNATION staffer Kabelo Seleka writes.
The record price newly introduced by BTTA and Phoenix Assurance is set to be awarded at the much anticipated Independence Day Grand Finale to be hosted at BUAN Hall.
The 22-year old Mooketsi is on paper the favorite to win the life-changing prize, nonetheless, his fiercest rival Malobela will not be a walk in the park as he eyes the price.
TALKING POINTS
- Mooketsi under pressure
- Malobela to take a game at a time
- Life Changing award given to best in value and standard
MOOKETSI PRESSURED TO BALANCE SCHOOL WITH TABLE TENNIS
When speaking recently to
SPORTNATION, Botswana’s number 1 table tennis player Mooketsi lamented that he has been under immense pressure balancing academics and training. The star stressed that making matters worse is that his opponents have been training while he was held back by demanding school exams.
Mooketsi elaborated that he is eyeing the P25 000.00 Price Money with an all attack game plan. Notably, he said he is ready for any opponent including Malobela.
“As for now I don’t fear my opponents but respect what they can be able to do. At the moment my game plan is all focused on the attack to kill all my opponents first before they can get me the pressure of not preparing well in time. I know am his(Malobela) target but not only him a lot of opponents out there are looking forward to breaking my momentum, narrated Mooketsi.”
Mooketsi and Malobela have met 3 times in major final events recently,Mooketsi won all the finals.
MALOBELA TO TAKE ONE GAME AT A TIME
For his part, Botswana’s number 2 table tennis star Malobela revealed his readiness for the Independence Day Grand Finale Tourney. He further noted that he is confident to win the Phoenix Life-Changing Award.
When quizzed about his rivalry with Moeketsi who is also eying the big money prize, Malobela echoed that he is not focused on the star player but rather on his game to take one match at a time.
“Before I think of him I need to win matches to reach him(Mooketsi) and I don’t want to underestimate other competitors so am going take match by match like I always do hope I will make it into the final again, responded Malobela.”
Malobela decried of lack of training since the closer of BNYC hall in light of the COVID-19 scare. He said he only focuses on physical training in the meantime.
“There is no training in Gaborone, I have not been training for the past 2 weeks now this one is the third week now all I do is physical training, commented Malobela.”
The youthful star noted that the circumstances of the current sport amid coronavirus are a challenge that are ought to overcome as sports personnel.
PHOENIX LIFE-CHANGING AWARD CHALLENGES QUALITY
In an exclusive interview with SPORTSNATION,
BTTA President Kudzanani Motswagole believes that the ultimate price money is intended to challenge players to be of a high standard.Interestingly, Motswagole admitted that the price is accompanied by terms and conditions in an effort of producing a quality display in the sport.
“We want a win of quality, we are challenging players to compete against set standards international, explained Motswagole on the P25 000 Prize Money.”
Meanwhile, other prices are P6000.00, P3000.00, P1600.00, and P700.00 for the champion, runner up,semi-finalist, and quarter finalist respectively.