adminMbachi Mutukula-Maregere Sports Reporter
AFTER having three months of serious preparations for their international bowls tour, the Zimbabwe Fours team are facing important times ahead as they are scheduled to leave for two tournaments in Asia next week.The Zimbabwe Fours team is going to take part in two bowl tournaments, one in Xinxiang city in Henan China and another one in Hong Kong.
Both tournaments will have more than 72 countries taking part and Team Zimbabwe will leave on March 12.
The Zimbabwe team, which will be under the guidance of Tony Havercroft, will start their business with the Tiger Bowls which is scheduled to start on March 16 before going for their second competition, the China Open, on March 19.
Havercroft will be the skipper for Zimbabwe.
He plays for Borrowdale Country Club while teammate and one of the key members Mike Eaton turns out for Alexandra Sports Club. Allan Dykes plays for Borrowdale Country Club and Colin Robertson plays for Avondale Sports Club.
The Netherlands are the current champions of the China Open bowls tournament which Zimbabwe is hoping to scoop this year.
“We started our preparations last year in November and we believe in ourselves. All has been going well and we are looking forward to a good performance.
“Zimbabwe has a lot of talented bowlers and it has very competitive bowlers. We are ready for both tournaments and we are very optimistic about the competitions.
“I remember I last took part at the China Open tournament in 2007 and we were in the top 20 as it was very competitive and this time we are hoping to be in the top 10. If we don’t make it to the top 10 we will be very disappointed because I believe we are a strong squad.
“We are expecting faster greens than the ones we use here in our country but that doesn’t sound bad to us because we all have played on faster greens before.
“For the past three months we have also been involving ourselves in a number tournaments which we feel is a good boost to our preparations,” said Havercroft.
Meanwhile, the local bowlers will this weekend continue with the Inter- Club Fours competition at Alexandra Sports Club.
The men’s team will be playing their third and fourth round well the women’s teams will be playing their first and second round.
Hosts’ Dru Smith will be representing Alexandra B team and she said she is ready for the competition and expecting a positive results although it will be competitive.
“I am looking forward to the event and I believe it will be very competitive because it will have strong bowlers but am ready for it.
“Our first match in the morning will be against Alexandra A team before taking on Alexandra C team in the afternoon, ”said Smith.
Other teams taking part in the Inter Club Fours will include Highlands Sports Club, Avondale Sports Club, City Bowling Club, Borrowdale Country Club and the hosts Alexandra.
Zimbabwe National Team
Tony Havercroft, Mike Eaton, Allan Dykes, Colin Robertson.
Online Reporter