Botswana to host Billie Jean

Different sporting codes in the country continue to grow and win the confidence of the world sport governing bodies by getting rights to host high-profile world-class tournaments. The latest recipient of such an honour is the Botswana Tennis Association (BTA), who has been granted rights to host the Billie Jean King Cup Group III Africa for the first time. As such 11 countries, including the host nation are expected to descend on Botswana for the July 13-17 showpiece to be held in Gaborone at the National Tennis Centre.

Botswana will host Algeria, Burundi, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Tunisia and Zimbabwe. BTA president, Oaitse Thipe said Billie Jean King Cup, which is also known as World Cup of Tennis, was the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport. Therefore, he said he was excited for the country to host a tournament of such magnitude adding that such a honour would mean a lot to the local tennis players.

He expressed confidence in the team that the association would assemble to compete against Africa’s best. Thipe said the team was made of Ekua Youri, who is based in University of Santa Barbara California. The team also has Chelsea Chakanyuka, who is at Hampton University in Virginia, Leungo Monnayo, Naledi Raguin who is based in France and Tshegofatso Tsiang, who is in the US.

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“We also have young players like Malak Macheng and Angela Chakanyuka who are also looking forward to be playing in this tournament,” he said. Thipe said it was a tough competition, but looking at the girls’ performance at their respective colleges, he was confident that they would bring positive results. Before hosting the Billie Jean King Cup Africa Group III, he said, they would host Professional Women and Men’s tennis.

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