05 Oct 2014

The Mascom volleyball league resumed over the weekend after a long break which created way for the Capital Motors Independence Cup, and effects of the long break were evident in all the teams as they trotted into the Molepolole Institute of Health Sciences courts.

Teams such as Mafolofolo and BDF VI which are known for their power play displayed signs of rustiness, and in a post-match interview, BDF VI coach, Selebatso Mabutho said before the resumption of the league they could not train well as a team because most of the players were not around.

“We were knocked off in the semi-finals of the independence cup, and after that most of our players went home for the independence break and only came back late. We only had two days of training before our first league game,” he said.

Mabutho said he realised in their game against Mafolofolo that his players were not fully fit. “After we lost the first set we talked to the players that they should rather use their minds instead of trying to be more physical, and that’s how we managed to come from behind and won the game 3-1,” said the mentor, who has been drilling BDF VI since around the 1990s.

Mabutho said contrary to belief that BDF VI is always physically fit because they train every day, not all his players are soldiers as they have merged the team with civilians, some of whom are students.

For his part, Mafolofolo coach, Kabo Ntshinogang also decried lack of training after the long break. “We had a similar case as our opponents. We only trained for a day and we are even worse because we were long knocked off in the preliminary stages of the independence cup. So our beak was even longer,” he said.

He said playing a strong team like BDF VI after such a long time without any activity was bound to result in a loss. 

“In fact, I credit my team for coming out with a set. We are now going to prepare for our next game and there will be no excuse next time because we would have had enough time to train, and all my players will be back,” he said.

He said he had only one reserve which made it difficult to substitute tired players.

In other games Spiking Stars defeated Kalavango 3-1 while Kutlwano defeated Itekeng 3-1 as well.

Meanwhile the ladies teams will only return to action next weekend Sunday with four games billed for Molepolole. In the first game Mafolofolo will take on Mag Stimela followed by Spiking Stars against BDF VI. Spiking Stars will then play their second game against Kalavango followed by the BDF VI and Mafolofolo wrap up match. Ends