15 Feb 2016

Bonolo Mabote struggling with form had him frustrated during the Botswana table tennis league games in Gaborone.

Mabote the number one ranking ping pong player in the country is seating on second place in the league with 18 points. On form is Thobo Matlhatsi ahead of the pack with 20 points.

Mabote won one game inwhich he was pitted against Rorisang Raesima with a score line of 4-1, a neatly game he dominated from start to end. Pocketing two easy point and consequently elevating him to a point behind Matlhatsi.

However, things took a twist on his second game when he had chance to catch up with the log leader. Mabote lost the game with 3-2, a game that went on to be decided on a tie breaker.

His second game pitted him against third placed Kola Modisathebe, a clash unarguably best of the weekend that got every spectator off their seats. The two players did not disappoint a bit.

On the first two sets, Mabote defeated his opponent with a score line of 12-10 a double. Though his seemingly strong competitive display, Modisathebe recuperated on the third set.

Having thought he had everything in control and everything in his side, Modisathebe came back to clinch the third set from Mabote with a good 6-11 score.

Things changed against Mabote as Modisathebe threw everything on the former as he tried to hold on his lifeline. On the fourth set, Mabote seemed to panic a lot even losing out his posture from the base of the table in most attacks thrown by Modisathebe.
He scored 8-11 beating Mabote to force a tie breaker, by then Mabote tried to vary his tactics but it seemed his day was already decided. His smashes were easily dealt with some going as far as the net in between.

Going into the tie breaker, Mabote tried to fancy a chance as he continued to make Modisathebe run of the table. However, his luck was no way to be found as he failed to outplay his opponete.
On Modisathebe’s side, he had every strategy working right for him. He went on to brush off Modisathebe with a score of 7-11 to win the game.

On his comment Mabote said he had a good game on his first match, though he expressed disappointment on the second one.
He said his opponent was a better side hence he won the game, he also said during the game his opponent managed to deal with whatever he was throwing in easily.

“My forehand was not getting it quite right, and even when I tried to reach out for the backhand it also lost grip, I even tried to talk to my coach but it seemed like nothing was going right” lamented Mabote.
He said after the first two sets, he got too comfortable with himself which he thought might have resulted from his opponent’s revival during the game.

However his shortcoming he said he is hopeful to bounce back better next, stating that now that the log leader lost a point too. He said his plan is not to slip but keep his position.
On the other hand the ladies also took part, with Boitshwarelo Butale leading with 22 points won both of her games during the week and Tshepiso Rebatenne just behind her with 16 points. On third place is Matshediso Osi.

Butale said she have been doing well since the beginning of the league, despite her not training.
She said though she is leading the league, she expressed some disappointment about her forehand during her match. She pointed out that her forehand made it impossible for to put up with her opponents.

Butale attributed her frustrations to a lack of training, she went on to say this forced her to change her strategy instead of attacking she revolted to a defending game.

“I have not been training since 2012 due to work commitments, though am not training I had to make sure that I work on my opponent’s weaknesses and it worked,” she said.
She also said she was well aware of her opponent’s strengths and weaknesses because it have been a good period playing together. Ends