Mohanoe bowls into the future
One of the oldest bowling club’s in the country, Brakpan Mines Bowling Club, is determined to grow the sport that they love and the club has their hopes that one young woman, Tebello Mohanoe (18), will set the trend, and help take bowls to a new demographic.
In the past bowls has had the stigma of “old man’s marbles” attached to it but things have been changing.
There are now provincial teams at u-19 level, u-25 level and a number of open provincial sides with a number of younger people enjoying the sport.
Mohanoe became involved in the sport after she came across a poster looking for new bowlers, which was displayed by Brakpan Mines bowling coach Duncan Ross at his wife Des’s dance studio, Visions Dance Academy, where the youngster does modern and tap dancing.
The former Brakpan High School pupil decided to take a gap year after matriculating last year, and is hoping to do a teacher’s diploma in tap and modern dancing this year while spending more and more time on the bowling green.
“When it was introduced to me I had to know what bowls was all about, so I approached Duncan, asked him about the sport and he asked me to come down to the club.
“He showed me how to play and I quickly realised that it was something that I can do,” she said.
Fast-forward two months and the teenager is now a member of the club and is the first black member of Brakpan Mines Bowling Club in its 102-year history.
“I like the social aspect of bowls.
“The people who play it are very friendly and you get to meet and play new people all the time.”
She added that “racial boundaries” don’t faze her in the slightest.
“We are all just people and I am not intimidated by anything,” she said.
She encouraged everybody to try playing bowls as it is a good sport for people who are not very athletic.
“Anybody can play bowls. Our youngest player at the club is 15 years old, and our oldest is in their 80s, so it’s never too early or too late to learn and play bowls.”
She added that Brakpan Mines is a beautiful place to play at and a fine establishment.
“The people have been nothing but kind to me and the food isn’t too bad either,” she said.
The sky is the limit for Mohanoe in the sport and she hopes to firstly become an established player in one of the club’s league teams, play in a provincial team and ultimately achieve big the goal of earning Protea national colours.
Ross said that he is really proud of his student, and believes that she can be a trailblazer for the club and the sport.
He encouraged anybody who is interested in learning the sport to contact him on 084 849 8106.
