SOUTH AFRICAN COMMONWEALTH GAMES SQUAD ANNOUNCED

South Africa won three gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010, and six of the ten players from those Games will also be present at Glasgow.

However, headlines will directed at debutante Mmboniseni (Prince) Neluonde, who shone at a recent test series against Namibia, and fully deserves his inclusion. Neluonde is the first black player in almost 130 years of bowls in South Africa to play at this level. He will play lead in the triples and fours.

He is joined in the men’s side by multi gold medallist and Bowls International contributor Gerry Baker. Baker, who won the pairs in Delhi, will play pairs once more and skip in the fours.

Manchester 2002 singles champion Bobby Donnelly will once again take on the responsibility in the singles, and the other two places are taken by Games debutants Rudi Jacobs and Jason Evans.

Jacobs has only recently returned to the sport and Evans, a talented guitarist, will be hoping to pull the strings at lead in the pairs and at two in the fours.

The women’s side only has one Games debutante on show, with Esmé Steyn coming into the fray. Although it is her first Games, she competed at the World Bowls championships in Adelaide in 2012 and has been in the elite pool of talent for a number of years. Colleen Piketh, adept indoors and outdoors, will play in the singles and skip the pairs.

2010 triples champions at Delhi – Susan Nel, Tracy-Lee Botha and Santjie Steyn – have all been included once more.

In para sport events, South Africa disability bowls players are world champions in the blind and disabled categories.

Bowls South Africa President, Allan Freeman, stated: “Extensive trials and camps have culminated in the selection of two sides more than capable of meeting the standard required to earn gold medals. A combination of experience and new talent, our Proteas are honed and prepared; proudly we salute their diligence and ability.”

SOUTH AFRICAN CWG TEAM

MEN

Singles: Bobby Donnelly.

Pairs: Jason Evans & Baker.

Triples: Prince Neluonde, Rudi Jacobs, Bobby Donnelly.

Fours: Neluonde, Evans, Jacobs, Baker.

WOMEN

Singles: Colleen Piketh.

Pairs: Tracy Lee Botha & Piketh.

Triples: Esmé Steyn, Santjie Steyn, Susan Nel.

Fours: E Steyn, S Steyn, Botha, Nel.

VISUALLY IMPAIRED MIXED PAIRS

Hermanus Scholtz & Gyndolene Nel.

Directors: Johanna van Rooyen, Geoff Newcombe.

DISABILITY TRIPLES

Deon van der Vyver, Roger Hagerty, Derrick Lobban.