02 Oct 2014

Kutlwano women volleyball team has won the BMW Capital Motors Independence Cup for three successive years.

They defeated Kalavango 3-2 in a hard fought final played in Molepolole on September 27. Gaborone-based Kutlwano have dominated the competition, winning five out of the seven editions since its inception in 2008.

Coach Dopp Popo’s side made a blistering start at the fully packed Molepolole Institute of Health Sciences hall, registering six consecutive points at the beginning of the first set before Kalavango could get off the mark.

They then wrapped a dramatic victory that saw the two teams exchange periods of dominance by winning the deciding set 15-13. With their captain Tebogo Sejewe supported by Daisy Golekanye and Thapelo Kamberuka in the attack, Kutlwano took advantage of their opponents’ erratic block to seal the first set 25-14.

Kalavango corrected their mistakes in the second set with their stalwarts like Gaoleseletse Gasekgonwe, Monica Alfred and Gabaresepe Mashaole finding cohesion in their passing and attacking.

Their young libero Kebabonye Phofedi also patrolled the defence with a lot of maturity as Kalavango won the second set 25-22. Coach Makgetla Gareanna’s team then opened a commanding 15-7 lead in the third set, but they let it slip and Kutlwano exploited their mistakes to level the points 22-22.

The Big House’as they are commonly known, then scored three consecutive points, with Kamberuka applying the finishing touch to give her team a 25-22 third set win.

However, gallant Kalavango players regrouped and staged another fight back in the fourth set which they won 25-21. Kalavango led by a point midway through a tense deciding set but then collapsed again when it mattered most as they let Kutlwano to recover and win the set.

It was the second time in three seasons that Kalavango had lost to Kutlwano in the final of the BMW Capital Motors Independence Cup after going down 3-0 in the 2012 decider.

Kutlwano coach Dopp Popo said he was happy with the way his team approached the first set, but pointed that their mistakes in the second set allowed their opponents back into the match.

“We committed many mistakes in the second set and they scored a lot of points. We were trying to block the line too much and that handed Kalavango advantage because they like playing cross court,” he said.

In the men’s final, Diphatsa squandered a two set lead but ultimately overcame the battling Police VI 3-2 in another thrilling final. With the talismanic Odirile Sibanda in good form, Diphatsa took the closely contested first set 28-26 and seemed to be cruising when they won the second set 25-19.

Nevertheless, Police staged a rousing fight back to seal a 25-23 win in the third set and forced a 25-19 fourth set victory to level the match.

Diphatsa however regained their nerves and controlled the deciding set throughout before sealing a 15-12 win to secure their first ever BMW Capital Motors Independence Cup title.

Champions in both categories won gold medals, floating trophy and P20 000 first prize, while runners ups settled for silver medals and P12 500 prize money.

Kalavango players dominated the individual awards as Gasekgonwe won the most valuable player of the tournament and best attacker awards.

Alfred was voted the best blocker and Mashaole got the best defender award. Kutlwano’s Golekanye won the best setter, Sesha Matswiri got best server and Pauline Moribame got best receiver awards. Kutlwano coach Popo was voted the best coach of the tournament.

Police’s Happy Ribbin won three awards for the most valuable player, best blocker and best attacker. Alec Angleton was voted the best server while Leponi Gaborone the best defender. Ends