16 Dec 2019

Gaborone District netball team was crowned Botswana Games champions during the finals held at Botswana Netball Association Courts on December 15.

The team defeated North West netball team 47-25 in a highly contested match. 

North West settled for silver medals while Francistown got bronze medals.

Last edition’s defending champions, Kweneg region did not live upto expectations as they finished in fifth position after defeating Central region team. 

Gaborone District netball team head coach, Abednico Chetelo said in an interview that the team had prepared and worked hard. 

He said discipline, determination and the team spirit spurred the team to victory.

For his part, Francistown head coach, Olebogeng Kuriwa said she was impressed by her team’s performance given that 90 per cent of the girls that made up the team were the competition newbies. 

She said most of the players were rookies, mostly from rural areas where they did not have access to facilities.

“It was a challenge for the girls to play on the courts because they are no courts from their respective locations,” she said. Kuriwa appealed to the ministry to help groom players from such areas so that they fit well with others as they had potential, which was yet to be unleashed, adding that such could be achieved through the provision of right equipment.

In an interview, competitions manager, Sithulile Mlotswa said one of the purposes of this year’s games were to identify players, who would represent the country at the 2021 World Youth Championships qualifiers.

Mlotswa said with the way the games had unfolded, she believed they had identified the team.

“BONA was given the chance to host Botswana Games and I can proudly say we did our best and the games went smoothly,” she said. 

She said there were no major injuries but only ankle and knee twists, which did not affect matches.

From the technical coaching point, Sithulile said there was much talent, which needs to be nurtured. 

“We need to prepare well on time and probably with the help of the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development, we would be in a better position to train the girls and get them the perfect equipment well on time.”

On an overall overview of the matches, netball convener, Kelebogile Maplanka said there was a notable improvement from last edition’s games and a complete turnaround of the results was recorded.

“The girls have grown in a commendable and tremendous manner more especially Gaborone team, which displayed much of mental growth.” 

Maplanka explained that all the teams seemed to have prepared well though some lacked mental aspect of the matches.

Meanwhile, Jwaneng finished fourth, Central finished on sixth position, Sowa on the seventh and Lobatse on eighth position. Ends