BY FIONA MOTSA
MBABANE-A team of six Eswatini Bass Anglers left for the United States Angling Confederation today for the annual Black Bass World Championships in Colombia.
The Eswatini Bass Team members are Wimpie Bouwer (Captain), William Greaves Brown (Manager), Derek Hopft, Latham Stephen King, Corrie Bateman and Ricus Bateman.
Eswatini is a part of 25 countries who will be participating in the week long World Championship hosted by the International Federation of Fish Sports Freshwater.
Eswatini Positive News (EPN) spoke to Penny Bouwer, the team’s spokesperson, who revealed that the team had been to two other tournaments which were in Mexico and Portugal. Bouwer said the build-up towards the trip was challenging but there had been a lot of positive responses from emaSwati towards it.
“We have had to do raffle draws in partnership with LetsGoZanzibar, organise fundraising drives and do bingo nights to raise an amount of E460 000 which the team needed for the trip to the United States,” Bouwer said.
Bouwer further mentioned that upon the team returning, they would raise awareness on the sport and get the Eswatini Sport and Recreation Council on board in realising that Eswatini is now on at a global level and try bridge the gap between Eswatini and other countries with the same sporting interest.
Angler Derek Hopft said the team had been preparing for three months for this trip at Maguga Dam, Luphohlo Dam, Tubungu and Sand River Dam.
Hopft further explained that the 16th Annual Championships were expected to start on October 16, 2022 and end on October 22, 2022 at the World-Class Bass Fishery of Lake Murray .The team will be returning on October 25, 2022.
