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Answers to some questions

(The Citizen -February 3, 2006)

PLAYERS in any sport have the right to their views. They also have the right to answers to their questions.
During last year I picked up a number of matters about which bowlers were asking questions. In the new manner things in South African bowls now, I was able to put these questions to the president of Bowls South Africa, Piet Breitenbach, and he agreed to answer, underlining his commitment to an "open-door" policy.

Question: Have Bowls South Africa and the sponsors of bowls sat down to find out why the SA Nationals and All Transvaal entries have gone down in the past years and why the entries are getting worse?
PB: All of us know why the entries are going down. During the last workshop before the AGM, Bowls South Africa got a mandate from council to come up with some ideas to ensure the 'resurrection' of the Nationals. Executive member Alan Freeman is busy, with some co-opted people to make some suggestions. Once Council has found it acceptable it will be discussed in detail with our sponsors.

Question: Some selectors have not played for their district. Players say colours are becoming cheap. They (players) have no confidence in the selection panels. They (selectors) sit on the side, watch one game of whoever (men or ladies) and decide, he or she, has played well, and next thing, he or she, is in the National team, without a record. But they are in because in the eyes of the selectors they have played that one game so well. This is not on, say the players, colours should be given on merit which is consistency and also to have a record.
Some past Protea players say they do not have the hunger to play bowls like they used to and also they don't even go to practice like they used to.
PB: It is strange the qualification of selectors comes up at this stage. The only selector who has not played for South Africa or for his district has been there for longer than 15 years. All other five have played for more than one district and two have played for South Africa. The facts are wrong.
The selection of teams is done through the squad system to ensure the 'in form' player is 'picked'. Players within the squad are there because of their record and present performance. Record says nothing if it is not an ongoing trend and process. I would like to meet the past players who make these noises and to discuss the matter with the conveners of both disciplines present.

Question: Why is it that the last two years of playing in the African States we cannot even win the gold overall. The pairs for the first time last year since 1994 did not even bring back a medal. What does that tell you about lack of experience in the selection of the teams. Some bowlers can play well at home, but take them out of South Africa and they cannot.. Bowlers feel that all the experienced players have been kicked out of the teams so that the inexperienced players can take over. Why ?
PB: The 2005 Ladies African States was a big disappointment for all of us.  No excuses are on offer here, but I can assure you that it will not happen again. Nobody was 'kicked' out of any team - they were just not 'picked' on this occasion.
 
Question: We have been bowling for 20 years and we have a record but we have not even been selected for the squad or for anything.
PB: The players who make certain statements as far as records are concerned, have to remember that only five or six players are selected to represent South Africa at any given time and that the selectors only pick "in form" players. With that goes behavior, commitment, etc.
I have been bowling for 22 years, have a good record but never made a squad, Masters or team. Bowling years are not a norm.<P>

Question: Bowls SA and their selectors must change their attitude towards the experienced players or no medals will be coming to South Africa. The bowlers are disappointed at the omission of Donny Piketh and others like Rudy Jacobs, Greg Bingham, Gary van Rensburg, Duanne Abrahams and Clinton Roets were other names mentioned.
PB: A lot of players are disappointed for not being in the SA Masters. The selectors select the players with a good Masters' record, and some new talent they feel can add value to the sport. Some players are not 'picked' for 'good' reasons.
 

Younger players benefit by absence of stars

The Citizen - April 28, 2006

Several districts playing in the annual inter-districts tournament in Johannesburg were denuded by the unavailability of many players, but this has been to the benefit of many others who have the opportunity to further their own causes.
The absence of some players has definitely shown in the form of some teams, more particularly Western Province where they have lost four of their top players to retirement and lack of leave left for bowls has become obvious.
Without Neil Burkett, (in Australia), Eric Johannes (no longer available), Kevin Campbell (reportedly retired) and Shaun Addinall (no more leave) they are much less the team they have been.. However, this is not say that the team put together has not acquitted itself well and the younger players drafted into the side have coped admirably with the task.
Not least of these is 40-year-old Peter Harvey, son of one of South Africa’s greatest bowlers, Tommy Harvey, who passed away at the age of 42 in the prime of his bowls career. Just to watch the son play one sees the father in him and that recognizable push delivery is so evident in the son.
Western Province manager, Bobby Cron said Harvey would soon be skipping one of the WP teams in inter-district tournaments.
It was also fortuitous for Western Province that former international Alan Lofthouse was able to make himself available to skip one of the WP fours after it became obvious Neil Burkett would not be back from Australia in time . His experience at this and international level has been a definite factor in helping the WP younger players..
There is a lot of youth in this tournament not least of all from Bloemfontein where we have Clinton Roets, Wayne Perry – both already internationals – Handre Marais who made such an impressions in gaining a bronze medal in the SA Masters, together with Wayne York and Jarred Oracki. With this talent, the future of the game in Bloemfontein looks very alive and well, if not now, as they lead their section after the sixth of the nine rounds.

Talk of younger players brings us to thoughts about upcoming international events and the national selectors are expected to go for youth when they pick their sides for the African States tournament in August. They are due to announce their sides at the end of the inter-districts this evening (Friday).
When I say going for youth I apply that more to the men than the women for there is a definite lack of younger players of established caliber among the women, a matter that should receive the urgent consideration of national and district executives.

So with youth in mind what do you think – and I expect brickbats – of my side for the African States.
Men: Fours: Brian Dixon, Wayne Perry, Duane Abrahams and Handre Marais. Singles: Nic Rusling.
Women: Fours: Loraine Victor, Cheryl Cox, Colleen Webb and Esme Steyn, although I would like to see Leone Durand, recently returned to the game among those names. For the singles there is only Lorna Trigwell.

Men’s national tournament chair Nicky Parker has been at the inter-provincials as a spectator and tells me all is in readiness for the tournament that begins in Cape Town on May 13 with the pairs competition. Headquarters is at Constantia.

One thing the inter-provincials have brought out is that there are some better bowlers on the national executive. National president Piet Breitenbach skips one of the two North West fours while executive member Tys Pringle has the same job for Limpopo.