15 Sep 2014

Botswana netball team, on September 14, made the country proud by winning their opening game by walloping Zimbabwe 41-38 at the ongoing fourth Africa Netball World Qualifiers in Gaborone.

It was a tightly contested duel that could have gone either way as the teams went on score level in the fourth quarter which almost broke Batswana’s hearts who thronged the Botswana Netball Association Courts.

Botswana girls took an upper hand in the first quarter as they dominated in possession but goal shooter and attacker Hilda Binang and Tebogo Rasekhumba were missing target numerously.

Zimbabwe on one hand ensured that every ball in their shooting circle hit the target and went through the goal mouth. Zimbabwe shooters, Mwangeyi Lazaro and Paidamoyo Tindza kept Botswana defenders, Florah Keeditse and Ntebogang Motlakaloso on their toes as the visitors were ferocious in the circle and converting the rebounds well.

The opening quarter culminated with the hosts leading 12-7 which gave the spectators something to look forward to. The second quarter saw Zimbabwe giving it all as they looked thirsty to quench the five lead score line and the quarter belonged to them as they scored nine goals while Botswana scored six and it closed at 18-16.

Botswana’s Binang was out in the third quarter for Tumisang Bagidi while Zimbabwe also brought in feisty shooter Pauline Jani.

While Bagidi and Rasekhumba were missing target a couple of times, Jani on the other hand ensured that every ball tossed at the goal mouth went in. It now became a two margin game as both teams were under pressure to go in to the final quarter leading, nonetheless the hosts maintained the lead and closed it at 30-27.

The last quarter was epic with everyone coming to the party in order to make their country proud. It was a pulsating closing as Zimbabwe came from behind to level the score at 36-36 towards the last minutes of the game which prompted Bagidi and Rasekhumba to pull their socks even higher.

The scoring duo did not disappoint knowing that they were carrying the nation’s hope and indeed made Botswana proud wrapping it up at 41-38 to put the hosts on a good spot in group A.

The hosts are placed in group A with Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Kenya while in Group B are Uganda, Zambia, Namibia and Swaziland. The qualifiers will run until Friday where the finals will be played to determine which two African countries will join South Africa and Malawi at the World Cup in Sydney next year.

Botswana will on Tuesday face Kenya at 1330, Tanzania plays against Zimbabwe at 0900, Uganda versus Namibia at 1115 while Swaziland and Zambia wrap up the day at 1545. Ends