Blackball team fourth at African champs

THE Namibian national blackball team participated in the African Championships in Bloemfontein, South Africa, recently.

Nine countries played in the tournament, of which six had a full national team. Uganda, Nigeria and Lesotho were only represented in the singles competition.In the team competition, Namibia unexpectedly lost their opening match against a very young Zambian team.Namibia came back strongly, beating Malawi, Swaziland and a very strong Mauritius/Reunion team before losing their final match to South Africa, the reigning intercontinental champions.In the final log standings, there was very little to choose between Zambia, Mauritius/Reunion and Namibia.The other teams, however, earned more bonus points than Namibia.In the individual competition, which was won by Anton Klafar of South Africa, the outstanding Namibian player was Iyaloo Alpheus.He was chosen for an African team to play against Europe in the near future.He also did exceedingly well in the team competition.The final team log standings are as follows: 1.South Africa 5 wins 0 losses 2.Zambia 3 wins 2 losses 3.Mauritius/Reunion 3 wins 2 losses 4.Namibia 3 wins 2 losses 5.Swaziland 1 wins 4 losses 6.Malawi 0 wins 5 losses.Uganda, Nigeria and Lesotho were only represented in the singles competition.In the team competition, Namibia unexpectedly lost their opening match against a very young Zambian team.Namibia came back strongly, beating Malawi, Swaziland and a very strong Mauritius/Reunion team before losing their final match to South Africa, the reigning intercontinental champions.In the final log standings, there was very little to choose between Zambia, Mauritius/Reunion and Namibia.The other teams, however, earned more bonus points than Namibia.In the individual competition, which was won by Anton Klafar of South Africa, the outstanding Namibian player was Iyaloo Alpheus.He was chosen for an African team to play against Europe in the near future.He also did exceedingly well in the team competition.The final team log standings are as follows: 1.South Africa 5 wins 0 losses 2.Zambia 3 wins 2 losses 3.Mauritius/Reunion 3 wins 2 losses 4.Namibia 3 wins 2 losses 5.Swaziland 1 wins 4 losses 6.Malawi 0 wins 5 losses.