Kiley Cassel of the TBASA keeps her eyes on the target
BRAMLEY – President of the Tenpin Bowling Association of South Africa Kiley Cassel recently organised a tenpin bowling tournament in Bramley.
Although the basis of most sports is to evaluate who is superior through a series of competitive games or round, sports such as tenpin bowling offers individuals far more than meets the eye.
As described by many bowlers, tenpin bowling is a social sport that not only allows people to compete against others but against themselves as they try to further develop their skills. Kiley Cassel, who has been involved with the Tenpin Bowling Association of South Africa (TBASA) since 2010, has always believed that bowling would bring all aspects of inclusion in South Africa.
Cassel recently organised a tenpin bowling tournament in Bramley. She spends half her time perfecting her skills at the gym and the other half organising tournaments across South Africa as the president of the association. Her bowling journey began at the age of 32 when she would take her mother to the various bowling alleys in Gauteng.
“My mom got into tenpin bowling before I did, safe to say that I got hooked to the sport. I started league bowling in 1993 and then I progressed in tournament bowling within the association. I received my provincial colours in the bronze division around the same time. Due to family obligations, I had to stop bowling professionally in 1996. The world of bowling wouldn’t leave me so I returned in 2010,” said Cassel.
Even though the origins are unclear, bowling has been able to include many people to participate: individuals with disabilities and those who are retired. Whichever way you look at it, bowling is a sport designed for life.
Since her return, Cassel has managed to climb to prominent roles in both the association and the Bowling Federation of Africa as an elected vice president.
“I think what we need now in our association is [getting] more juniors into professional bowling. As with all sports, you need to start with your developing programmes. So our biggest challenge is getting the sport exposed in schools – not impossible. The other thing that we aim to do is to further include women in the sport, that’s my biggest motivation of my position in the association,” concluded Cassel.
Details: Kiley Cassel kiley@tenpinbowling.co.za
