Dart player targets win in national championships
JERRY Govender is preparing to take aim at national colours for the first time in 12 years of playing competitive darts.
The 57-year-old from Phoenix has been in sizzling form this year – he finished second out of 120 players in the Kwazulu-natal Darts Federation League.
Now he is to face the cream of the crop representing team KZN at the coming Darts South Africa National Championships.
It has been a long time coming for the top seed from the Phoenix Darts Association (PDA), who has narrowly missed out on provincial honours over the years.
“I have a lot of passion for darts,” Govender enthused.
“I am excited as I worked hard on my darts skills and take this sport very seriously.
“I finished ninth in the KZN League last year, so I am excited to have made the team in 2017.”
He was persuaded by a friend to take up the sport and soon joined PDA, where his competitive ability was honed.
Govender will be part of a team of six, which will include four players from Chatsworth and one from Amanzimtoti at the event which will take place from July 10 to 14.
It is an outfit laden with seasoned campaigners and Govender is hoping they will arrive at the competition primed for battle against the country’s best players.
“We are currently practising together. There is a high level of confidence.
“There is a lot on the line as some of us could also make the Proteas team for next year’s World Cup,” he said.
In addition, he is training on his own at home on a specially designed practise board.
Govender said: “I put in four hours a day. I feel confident and on top of my game at the moment.”
PDA president Lucky Laljeeth believes Govender can carry his good form into to the tournament, which will be staged at the UKZN Westville Sports Centre.
“Since moving to the PDA, I have seen him emerge as a star darts player by virtue of his passion and dedication to the sport,” he said.
“We are proud to have him represent us in the inter-provincial section of the tournament.”
PDA will field a team in the National Inter-assocation section.
It will be led by Laljeeth and will include Govender, Dion Andrews, Louis Andrews, Mervyn Jaganath, Mack Govender and Maya Rangana.