The inaugural African Zone Championships attracted the best tenpin bowlers from Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria and South Africa to Northcliff Bowl.
The tournament ran from 18 to 23 March and its format saw players compete in singles, doubles, team and ‘all events’ categories for medals. A separate masters event was held with the leading eight women and eight men competing.
In the end, South Africa won the overall championship, winning eight of the 10 available gold medals. Egypt finished a close second although they only won two gold medals. Egypt won silver medals in all eight divisions that SA won gold.
“The tournament was a great success for bowling in Africa,” said Kiley Cassel, president of the hosting association, Tenpin Bowling Association of South Africa (TBASA), and also vice-president of Bowling Federation Africa.
“It was Nigeria’s first international tournament and they grasped the rules quickly and, along with Ethiopia, improved over the tournament.”
Cassel said the South African and Egyptian players took the tournament very seriously and each team wanted to prove to the other that they were better.
Nevertheless, she said while the competitiveness was high, a great spirit prevailed between the countries. “We look forward to 2020, where the championship will possibly be hosted in Egypt.”
Attending the African Zone Championships were the ambassador of Egypt, Sherif Issa, second secretary of the Egyptian embassy, Karim Elkhashab and the Nigerian consul general, Godwin Adama.
Cassel concluded that the success of the tournament was thanks to the hard work and dedication shown by the TBASA organising committee and members of the Bowling Federation Africa who attended from Egypt.
“We were also assisted by the hard work of the new manager at Northcliff Bowl, Carrie Robertson.”
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