Bowls is for the young, for people from all walks of life. It’s all about mindset.
And bowls is thrilling, says newly elected Border Bowls president, Fanie Eloff.
The veteran East London administrator is ushering in a new era.
Young people, he says, will be amazed at how engrossing a proper bowls contest can be.
It takes precision, patience, some aggro, style, technique, and the desire to just have a fun day out on the greens or socialising in the clubhouses with good people.
Eloff, who has been involved in bowls for the past 17 years, succeeds Fred Darke, who has since joined the Bowls SA executive committee, after a successful tenure at the helm.
After having served as president of the Typos Bowling Club for nine years and as vice-president of the East London district, Eloff brings a wealth of experience and wants to bring diversity to the sport.
He said working with Darke had sharpened his leadership skills and knowledge on how to run bowls in the metro.
“I learnt a lot from Fred over the years,” said Eloff, who is thrilled to take over at a time when the sport is seeing a surge of talented young players.
Determined to change perceptions of bowls as “old men’s marbles”, Eloff said he wanted to invite youth from all sorts of backgrounds to discover the thrill of the sport.
He intends to set up a schools committee that will host regular bowls days where pupils can be introduced to the game and mentored by local clubs, at no cost.
“It’s a sport for the young and old, big and small.
“We want to give back to the community, while also getting fresh young talent into Border Bowls,” he said.
He highlighted the importance of financial backing to sustain growth. Sponsorships were crucial to keeping tournaments alive.
“We’re grateful to the companies that already support us. Without them, it would be very difficult,” he said.
He praised the Border Bowls coaching setup, led by head coach Heather Boucher and assistant coach Neil Brill, for their commitment to encouraging players of all skills levels.
Preparations are under way for the men and women’s district which will compete in Johannesburg and Pretoria next March, with squads set to be announced soon.
“I want to encourage all members of the public to give bowls a try. It’s not about paying a lot of money; it’s about fun and sportsmanship. People should come to our bowling clubs on a Thursday for social bowls. You’ll find people ready to teach you the game, and it’s a great way to meet new friends.”
