23 Feb 2016

Thobo Matlhatsi of BDF Table Tennis Club and Matshediso Osi of Smash Maniacs are this year’s Celiat-BTTA champions.

Both players walked away with P5 000 first prize money while second placed Kola Modisathebe and Boitshwarelo Butale both pocketed P3 000 for men and women respectively.

On third position, the pair of Bonolo Mabote and Tshepiso Rebatenne won P1 500 while seating on fourth position. The last stride of the league saw an enticing fixture between defending champion, Mabote against the reigning champion Matlhatsi.

On paper, Matlhatsi was expected to smash his way with ease and closed his campaign by beating number one ranked ping pong king, Mabote to clinch the league in style.
Mabote is ranked number one, and he went into the game placed on third position in the league. On the other hand, Matlhatsi is ranked second and prior to his crowning he was leading the league. Sideline pundits named it the final match.

However, fate was placed in a different plate of events. Mabote had a rather terrible campaign with a few upsets. One being losing to Modisathebe, and it was clear he was not the diamond cut which he used to be in the game.
Contrary to what the paper reflected about the two ping pong kingpins, Mabote came all out and caused an upset as he broke no sweat to win the encounter 4-2.

In the first set, both players exchanged smashes. The champ was the better player and killed off the first set. In the second set, Mabote came with guns blazing after realising that he cannot beat his rival with the strategy he adopted in the first set.

Playing short balls, driving them across the table made Matlhatsi uncomfortable to take the fight to the other side. Elevating Mabote to a whole new player, ultimately winning consecutive two sets.

Though Matlhatsi managed to pull a comeback to equalise, lady luck had propelled her lucky turbines towards Mabote’s side. Mabote beat his long-time rival eventually winning the game 4-2.

On the ladies side, things were quite hectic for the Butales who have been leading for quite a while. Her championship was put on doubt after losing to Osi 4-3. Butale had an ultimatum to rise from the ashes when she faced Tshepiso Rebatenne for her second match.

Butale faced another upset after losing her second match, putting her chances to defend her title league in doubt. She lost the match 4-3. The result meant Osi and Butale were on 26 points, but Osi walked away with the title on technicalities.

Speaking after the game, Matlhatsi expressed delight on winning the league, saying it was a good campaign for him. He also said his intention was to win about six events this year and to be ranked number one in Botswana.

Regarding the match, he said he learnt a lot from his opponent. He said his demise was a result of how he handled the game, going hard on the ball while his opponent was smart with his attacks.
“I could have went soft and played calm, I tried to change to that, but it did not come out good,” he said. He also said Mabote realised that his backhand was a bit rough so he capitalised on it.

In conclusion he said his plan was to move forward and prepare for the upcoming event in which he is hoping to display good table tennis. Ends