Botswana Darts Association (BDA) is planning to start earnest preparations for the coming Zone V Youth Darts tournament to be hosted by Maseru, Lesotho, in September.
Botswana has won the youth tournament five times in a row. BDA spokesperson Neo Badubi said his association was ready to drill the kids to defend the Maseru tournament.
The tournament that is played by boys and girls aged between 10 and 16 years is a platform for exposing kids to the bigger tournaments.
Badubi said they were awaiting finalisation of the dates before they start national team selection process. “Once the dates are set we will request schools to release players for the national team selection process. Those selected will go into camps as and when required by the coaches,” Badubi, he said.
“The competition is tough among the kids gained from local competitions and the game is growing well from grassroots,” observed Badubi.
He said the BDA was helping schools with equipment and also hosts coaching clinics for teachers who need necessary techniques to impart to students.
“We will be preparing hard for the tournament. We don’t want to be complacent because we have been winning the tournament for five years. We know countries are preparing for us but they should find us ready,” Badubi said.
“BDA has a lot of confidence that the selected team will be trained well and it will bring glory home,” Badubi.
The challenge BDA faces, according to Badubi, is that kids ditch the sport as they pursue their studies further.
