Based on Namibia's beautiful Skeleton Coast, Lelani has been helping support the BBO community since 2021 as part of the Customer Service & Abuse Team. We asked her about her work behind the scenes, her life outside BBO, and the people who make the bridge community so special.
Tell us about you, where are you from, where do you live now, and what does a regular day look like for you?
I was born and raised in Namibia, a country known for its breathtaking natural beauty and vast open spaces.
With an estimated population of just 3.1 million people, Namibia has one of the lowest population densities in the world.
It is internationally renowned for its surreal desert landscapes, diverse wildlife, and unspoiled wilderness, making it one of Africa's most unique and captivating destinations.
I live in a coastal town called Henties Bay, situated along Namibia's famous Skeleton Coast. The town is a popular holiday destination and is especially well known among locals for its excellent angling opportunities.
My day usually begins with a strong cup of coffee before I log in to BBO and start my workday. Outside of work, I enjoy baking and painting, both of which allow me to express my creativity and unwind.
Here are pictures of my past 'home style baking' attempts 😎
At the moment, much of my free time is devoted to planning a very special event - my wedding. Yes, I am getting married soon! My fiancé is from South Africa, and we are excitedly preparing for this wonderful new chapter in our live.
What are you working on BBO?
I am fortunate to be part of BBO’s Customer Service and Abuse Team.
What’s one fun fact about yourself?
Bridge is the first - and just about the only - card game I have ever learned to play. To this day, I am still quite clueless about most other card games, but in my opinion, none of them can compare to bridge.
How long have you been working for BBO, and what keeps you interested
I have been working for BBO since 2021. I remember this clearly 
because I proudly shared my “Yellow Jacket” achievement on social media along with a screenshot of my BBO profile.
I have to add, my BXP improved since!
What keeps me engaged at BBO is the opportunity to stay connected with the latest developments and to be involved in the continuous improvement of the platform.
What’s something players might not realize about your work?
Our goal is always to make the playing experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible for our users.
One thing many players may not realize is how much work happens behind the scenes to create that effortless experience. Different departments monitor and manage various aspects of the platform every day. Constant server monitoring, thousands of customer emails, software maintenance, bug fixes, security updates, payment processing and abuse investigations are just a few of the many tasks that take place out of sight.
If you could describe BBO in three words, what would they be?
If you could leave one message for the BBO community, what would it be?
It is the people - YOU - who truly make this community special.
Every day, thousands of players have the wonderful opportunity to log in to BBO and enjoy bridge with friends and partners from all corners of the world.
Whether you are a beginner or an expert, you form part of something remarkable.
BBO is a place where friendships are formed, knowledge is shared, and new lessons are learned every day.
As you sit down for your next session, remember that every table is an opportunity - not only to play a great hand, but also to make someone’s day a little brighter.
Don't forget to greet others warmly and share a kind word whenever you can. We never know who is in need of a simple 'hello - welcome'.
I had the pleasure of recently teaming up with my BBO partner, Sulci. It is a friendship / partnership that I value greatly. If you are fortunate enough to find a partner with whom you can share your enjoyment of bridge, cherish that partnership please.
Furthermore, thank you for the patience you show your partners, the respect you show your opponents, and the passion you bring to the game. It is your presence that makes a difference and helps make BBO the special community it is today.
Do you have any interesting or memorable story you'd like to share?
There are so many interesting stories and memorable moments that it is difficult to single out just one.
One of the highlight for me, at the moment, is the e-Bridge Cup. It is fascinating to watch layers progress from one stage to the next and see the competition unfold. BBO has made access to the leaderboard and related information incredibly easy, allowing us to follow the event closely. I particularly enjoy seeing the names of competitors displayed openly alongside their running scores. Some familiar faces and some new. The race to the top positions is exceptionally close, keeping everyone in suspense as we eagerly await the final outcome
It was wonderful to read about Lelani and her work ...we don't realise what goes behind the scenes and efforts taken by BBO team to keep this going..Have known her ever since I started playing here and this interview is a well deserved recognition for her work..she is ever ready to help ...Keep up the good work and help us keep safe bridging... Cheers!
It was truly a pleasure to read Lelani’s interview and to see a bit more of the person behind the scenes at BBO.
As her bridge partner, I can only confirm what shines through in her words: she brings not only professionalism and dedication to the platform, but also a genuine kindness and sense of humanity that makes every game enjoyable.
Playing bridge with her has always been a very positive experience. There is a natural balance between focus and lightness, and I think that reflects the same spirit she described in her work — making things smooth, respectful, and enjoyable for everyone involved.
What I also find inspiring is how she manages to combine such an important role at BBO with a rich personal life, creativity, and exciting milestones like her upcoming wedding. It shows a wonderful balance between responsibility and passion for life.
I feel fortunate to be her partner at the table, and I completely agree with her message to the community: bridge is more than a game, it is about people, respect, and connection across the world.
Thank you, Lelani, for everything you do behind the scenes and for the positive energy you bring both to BBO and to those who play with you.
I need help from customer service.
Please email me ellenmduffy@yahoo.com or call 516 313 2664
ACBL name: ellenmduff
3352633
I also need customer service help. Maybe you can help me. When I am trying to leave a message in the chat, before the message appears an arrow instead of my ID name. What I am doing wrong and how to change it.
My email sg425@yahoo.com
Hi Ellen and Sophie, could you please contact our support team directly at support@bridgebase.com with a brief description of the issue? If possible, please also include a screenshot. This will help the team investigate the problem and assist you more quickly.
customer abuse team?
Yes. To clarify, the Customer Abuse Team reviews reports of abusive behavior and investigates cases where players have been reported by others or where potential abuse has been detected. 🙂
Thank you Lelani for your BBO involvement and for sharing your view on bridge. Keeping bridge as a game everyone should enjoy through ethics and respect and gentleman's attitude is really the way to go. If I may add, I would insist on sustainability where there is big room for improvement: it is very important to enlarge the bridge community to more and more youngsters. What I notice is that the federations have failed so far because they miss the vision and what it takes to attract youth as of 7 years old. Most teachers just do not succeed transmitting our passion, sharing how bridge is creative and does not require any memory in improving our bidding! The mere fact that most react to this statement by not believing that memory should be banished, evidences the long way ahead... BBO Trainer goes into the right direction, but there is so much to be improved there. Brisge Master and BBO are the two key assets we have so far, and as a teacher, I am trying hard to make ny students use extensively both in a tooling environment.
Keep on your impressive contribution and a special thought to Very Austral Africa!
VJ
Hi John,
Thank you for showing such great passion and enthusiasm! Please continue to enjoy BBO with us. Stay tuned and have a lot of fun.