18 Oct 2018

Revenge, epic battles and war are some of the words rolling off the lips of volleyball enthusiasts as the Mascom men’s volleyball league title will be settled this weekend at the Molepolole Institute of Health Sciences indoor courts. 

Four fixtures are billed for October 20 while two have been reserved for October 21, but all eyes will be on the epic battle for the title in the last game of the championship between disciplined forces sides, BDF and Police VI. Last weekend the two teams won their respective games and are currently joint log leaders with 61 points each, making the final game an epic one for any volleyball enthusiast. Both teams will head into the fixtures well aware that it is winner takes all or nothing. With their only loss of the championship so far having been inflicted by Police VI, BDF VI will go into the game looking for revenge and their caretaker coach, Isaiah Bannye is  aware of what that revenge, if successful, will mean for his team.

“The last time they beat us it wasn’t all that hurting as we still had a chance to redeem ourselves, but should we manage to avenge the loss this weekend, then it will be more painful for them than what we felt because we will have deprived them of the championship,” he said. He said that as a sign of commitment and hunger for the title, some of his civilian players have even asked for off days from their respective employers so that they could have more time to train and prepare with the rest of the team, and that they have also arranged a counsellor to prepare the players on Friday.

Bannye also indicated that even though he has a few injuries, the bulk of the team that did duty over the last weekend was available, and that he has confidence that the few injuries would not affect them. On the other hand, Police VI coach, Shimaka Ngwanaotsile is also well aware that BDF VI will come out hungry and with all guns blazing for revenge.

“Being the only team that has beaten them in the league so far and their wish being that they should not have lost even once, they will be coming out for revenge and that is what I have been telling my boys at training, that they should prepare for war,” he said. Ngwanaotsile, however, said he does not want to put his players under any pressure and wants them to treat the game just like any other game. 

“There is no doubt that BDF VI is a strong team and we should not underestimate them, but I have trust in my squad and confident that should we play our normal game, we will bring back the trophy on Sunday,” he said.

Ngwanaotsile said so far, he has all his players at his disposal and no injuries to worry about, and that morale in the camp was high. He also indicated that he expected a full house during the game as the mood among the supporters indicated that they would come in numbers.

“I would, therefore, call on supporters to not just make it a talk, but come in numbers to be witnesses as we lift the trophy. We want them to come and give our players some morale,” he said.  

On October 20, Mag Stimela opens the fixtures against Itekeng followed by Desert Kings against Spiking Stars. Kalavango then follows against Iketeng, with the latter playing their second and last game against Yaros.

On October 21 Yaros faces Kalavango before the epic title decider between BDF VI and Police VI which is billed for 1pm. ENDS