Leeuwkop Bowling Club members enjoy the camaraderie of their sport
LEEUWKOP – Chairman of the Leeuwkop Bowling Club, Phillip Barnard, is also no stranger to participating in bowls, having competed in leagues and at a national level.
The quiet clanking of small balls sounded as they hit the black spheres on the perfectly green square. The players, who meet every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, stood on the lawn of the green, with quiet conversations taking place.
Eric Heads, coach of the Leeuwkop Bowling Club for the last four months, sat and watched his players and friends as they cheered on each other after each release. Located in Leeuwkop Correctional Services, the centre is a host for other sports for employees and private clubs. Some members have been at the club for as long as 10 years.
According to the Bowls South Africa website, the sport of bowls started in 1882 in South Africa, with the first green laid in Port Elizabeth’s St. George’s Park, named Founder’s Green. The St George’s Park history website specified that is situated along with the Port Elizabeth Cricket Club that has hosted teams like Australia, India, and Pakistan. The Leeuwkop Bowling Club was started in 1954.
Player Michael Kandana received a high number of praises by his teammates for his play of bowls during the morning. Only starting in November 2019, his fellow club members showered applause on the day. Jackie Harrison, Christy Naaidoo and Bob van Zyl are also players in the club who joined the sport of bowls, and found the game to be one for the mind in thinking and concentration. “I worked with someone who advised me to start playing bowls. Since then, I’ve enjoyed the sport, and have met lovely people,” said Harrison.
Naidoo and Van Zyl are both ex-sports players, the former in volleyball, and the latter in cycling, soccer and golf.
Chairman of the Leeuwkop Bowling Club, Phillip Barnard, is also no stranger to participating in bowls, having competed in leagues and at a national level.
“Due to injuries I got, as well as my age, I took up bowls,” he said.
With the day of bowls coming to a close, handshakes went all around, with some friendly cheek-kisses going out since many of the members are friends as well.
The friendly hospitality of the club could be that similar to a family.
A common response from players was the desire to have younger players come and join the game of bowls, with one member saying the change in the club’s uniform is to make it seem more fashionable. “Join bowls once you cannot carry on with any other contact sport, or take up bowls as your first sport as a youngster,” said Barnard.
“I just want to promote the game of bowls. As a coach, you want your team and sport to grow more,” concluded coach Heads.
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