This weekend Gaborone, Botswana, was the place to be for
great squash, showcasing some of the best squash players in
the region and the world.
The Stadium Squash Club (SSC) hosted an exhibition
tournament at the National Squash Centre that included
elite, lady and junior players. The event targeted the
corporate sector to raise awareness of the sport and court
potential sponsors critical to the development of the club.
 In
addition to the exceptional tournament line-up, the Minister
of Wildlife and Tourism and club patron, Hon. Min.
Onkokame Kitso Mokaila, played an exhibition match
against the SSC Chairman Mr. Sechele Sechele. The
minister is an avid squash player and attributes his good
health, physique and energy largely to the sport.
As a grand finale, world ranked number 19, Botswana’s own
Alister Walker, took on a few of the best players in the
SADC region.
Mwinga Lengwe, top local player in Zambia, gave a
great show but could only pull off a few points against
Walker. Cunning Machinya of Botswana, gave Walker his
toughest rounds of the day and the two battled it out on the
court providing perhaps the best squash played in Botswana
to date.
The event also provided a welcomed reunion and to close the
event, Nick Champo, the coach that groomed Alister at
a young age, also tried his luck with the young protégé.
At the end of the day, Alister proved to the crowd why he is
ranked amongst the world’s top.
The Stadium Squash Club has recently established a new
committee that is determined to further develop the National
Squash Centre and the sport in Botswana. They are in the
process of creating their strategic plan that aims to
increase membership, improve the infrastructure and focus
heavily on junior development.
“Junior development is a cornerstone for this club. There
are many potential Alister Walkers in Botswana, but a
concerted effort is needed to bring that potential to life”
says Chris Hughes, the current SSC Secretary.
This weekend event was made possible by sponsorship from
Engen.
To quote TK Rabasha, Retail Manager, “we are proud to
have been sponsors (through our Engen Truck Inn, Mochudi,
Kgale service stations and our associate brand Corner
Bakery) of this awesome squash event and wish to thank the
directors and shareholders of these four entities for their
generosity.” |
“This event was a tremendous
step forward for our club. The players were spectacular and
their contribution will certainly create an impact on the
sport in Botswana. Not to mention Alister’s genuine interest
in Botswana’s development … absolutely outstanding!”
SSC Secretary
“I wish on behalf of the committee to thank all the players
for giving their time and skill to make this event a
success. I would also like to give a special thanks to
Alister Walker for his professional input both on and off
the court and look forward to more of his support in the
future.”
Tournament Director
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