20 Oct 2016

Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF) president, Daniel Molaodi has encouraged the Botswana Under 23 volleyball team to do the nation proud at the 2016 women’s U23 volleyball African championships in Nairobi, Kenya starting today.
  Speaking during the team’s send-off ceremony at the National Stadium on October 18, Molaodi said there would be five teams competing in the tournament from Botswana, Egypt, Senegal, Rwanda and the host Kenya. He encouraged the team to do their best as the African Championship games are also a qualifier for the World International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Championships.
Molaodi said they were sending the team off with the hope that they would get the nation a position and to give youth teams more attention.
“U23 national set ups all over the world, be it netball, volleyball or football normally are the transition teams to the senior national teams and therefore it is important that we do much as we can to ensure that this age group is well taken care of,” he said.
Giving a word of encouragement, Technical Sports Development director at Botswana National Sports Council, Bobby Gaseitsewe advised the team to go there as a team since volleyball requires team effort.
“You are a team; nobody should go there as an individual to try to shine as an individual, you need each other to play,” said Gaseitsewe.
Gaseitsewe also encouraged the team to look for opportunities to grow their play, adding that “dedication and perseverance are key, people who persevere always make it in life, go out there and walk tall, don’t be intimidated.”
Team captain, Caroline Roger said they were ready to battle it out with other countries despite having to compete among the best in the continent. “We are ready, the couching team did their job, it’s only left for us to do our part, we will fight from all sides,” Caroline said. ENDS