26 Jun 2017

Australian based netball player, Sarona Hans has send a strong warning to Under 21 team opponents, to expect a tough competition from the local girls, during the Netball World Youth Cup (NWYC) 2017 next month.

The games will be played in Gaborone from July 8 to 16, and Botswana is in Pool C with Jamaica, Cook Island, Malaysia and Uganda.

Botswana will play against Malaysia in their opening game at the University of Botswana, and in that regard Hans said she was confident that Team Botswana was going to pull a big surprise.

Brisbane South Wildcats player said she plays with other players from Cook Island and Australia who would be coming to Botswana for the competition.

She said playing with them in the same team, had given her an idea as to what to expect in the NWYC, adding that plying her trade in Australia had helped her to learn new skills.

Furthermore, she said Botswana would undoubtedly leave an indelible mark during the competition, given that the country had improved significantly in their style of play.

“To be honest, there is no huge gap between us and other countries who have facilities, there won’t be a walk over at all.

Again, if I compare our team with the one I am playing for in Australia, I can see that if we can fight, honestly most of the countries will return bruised,” she said.

She was confident that, looking at Team Botswana preparations it was evident that ‘it is going to surprise the World,’ adding that she was aware that other countries had ruled Botswana out.

“Look, we are going to enjoy the home ground advantage, so they must rule us at their own peril, we are ready to take the World by storm,” she said.

Quizzed if she was going to gel with the team, given that they have been preparing during her absence, she said she was in Botswana in December to play in the under 20 youth games, adding that most of the girls selected in the final team, they played together during that tournament.

“I was here again during Easter Holidays, during our training camp, so I also had a chance to play with them, and then I was also with the team in Australia two weeks ago, that also gave me a chance to blend with the team, and know what the coach expects from me,” she said.

Hans said she had adapted to the girls style of play, and she was confident that she would not have any pressure during the games. ENDS