‘Old man’s marbles’ no more
As young guns prepare for SA Junior Nationals
TWO NORTHERN Cape High School learners, Kieran Kelly, 17, and Keegan Minopetros, 14, have been selected to represent their province at the South African Junior National Bowls Championship being held in Bloemfontein from April 3-6.
Speaking to 14-year-old Keegan Minopetros it became clear that he inherited his family’s passion for the sport of bowls. “My father, grandparents and uncle are all devoted players, and witnessing their games inspired me to take up the sport as well,” he told the DFA.
At just 11 years of age, Keegan first rolled the woods down the greens, and despite only playing for a brief period, he demonstrated exceptional skill. Eventually his abilities were noticed and this earned him a spot on the provincial team for the National competition in 2022.
This year, Keegan will compete in the Under-18 Junior Division, and when asked what he was hoping to achieve during the nationals competition, he quickly replied, “Go for the gold.”
The young bowler told the DFA, however, that it’s not all about medals.
“Bowls has instilled in me the value of sportsmanship and strategic thinking beyond the game at hand,” he said. “You learn to interpret your opponents’ movements on the green. Playing bowls has also led to me making many friends along the way.”
Keegan revealed that he and his teammate underwent trials recently.
The selectors evaluated their playing styles, scores, and conduct on the greens. After taking all of these criteria into account, they were chosen to participate in the nationals.
Kieran Kelly, the second member of the provincial duo, told the DFA that he’s the ‘veteran’ in the team as he has been playing bowls since the age of 10. His love for bowls came about as he admired his grandfather’s playtime.
“At a social event hosted at the club one Thursday, I tried rolling the woods down the green, and I immediately fell in love with the sport,” he said. “Now, I am fully committed to the sport.”
Winning is not new to Kieran who says that he competed at the Under-15 South African Nationals and won a gold medal in Bloemfontein. Last year, he also participated in the Under-30 Northern Cape Masters Singles Championships and emerged victorious.
“I have yet to win the Under18 medal, so that's my aim going into the upcoming nationals,” Kieran remarked.
He told the DFA that through
bowling, he has cultivated discipline, respect for all ages, sportsmanship, and fairness, all of which have contributed to him being a better person.
“If I remain in South Africa after finishing school, I hope to continue playing bowls and performing excellently. I aspire to participate in more national championships and, as time passes, eventually earn a spot in the national Springbok squad,” Kieran added.
The Northern Cape bowling community applauds these two young players and wishes them success in bringing back medals and elevating the province's reputation on the national stage.