Just one of the many expected at the first ever Tenpin Bowling Africa Nations Cup; a tournament that hopes to popularize the game across the continent.
“After the initiative by World Bowling to incorporate the Africa Zone that will become known as World Bowling Africa I took the initiative to set up a tournament of Africa nations, this would be the first and unifying tournament of all the African countries,” said Vaughn Williams, President, Tenpin Bowling Association Of South Africa.
The tournament kicked off with Mauritius, Ethiopia and South Africa, and as the best battled it out in a gripping tournament, South Africa crushed the competition.
With the standard of play from participating countries at different levels, the South African Federation saw this as an ideal opportunity to select a development team to represent the country.
“There are quite a gap between our Gold bowlers that are our top flight bowlers the proper South African team, so this give an opportunity for the lesser bowler to improve their bowling and we are what’s called the Silver division bowlers and the countries that are coming to bowl with us are more on that level,” said Kiley Cassel, official, team South Africa.
But players are confident that once more countries enter future tournaments, the overall level of competition at the Africa Nations Cup will improve.
“I think that if we get many countries to participate in this kind of tournament the level I think will be very high, now we get only three countries – maybe if we get five or six countries the level and competition will be very high,” said Mashoud Emamfaib, team Mauritius.
The inaugural Africa Nations Cup was won by South Africa. But for these competitors the event was more than just a tournament. It was a draw card for the newly formed World Bowl Africa, and it might just strengthen the bid to one day have Tenpin bowling included in future Olympic Games.
