28 Jul 2024

BDF VI women’s Botswana Volleyball Federation League campaign got off to a good start on Saturday with an impressive 3-0 victory over Kalavango as the race for the top honours resumed over the weekend following a lengthy lay off.

With both teams showing a bit of rust and unfitness due to a long break from competitive volleyball, it was nonetheless BDF VI who made their intention clear from the word go winning the first set 25-21.

Boasting an array of stars in their line up among them Tsebo Morape, Pako Luke and Bokamoso Maputako, BDF VI had the best start, easily racing to a four-point lead over their youthful opponents.

 Kalavango, however did not take things lying down in the second set and took an early five-point lead but were nonetheless the architects of their own downfall.

Despite the experience of middle-blocker, Monica Alfred and Gaone Lemphitletse, Kalavango squandered many golden opportunities in the dying minutes of the second set thus allowing BDV VI to fight their way back and narrowly win the second set 25-22 thus putting the game beyond Kalavango’s reach heading to the third set.

 Led by Pearl Sekalela and her powerful serves, Kalavango fought hard to claw their way back into contention in the final set and impose themselves on the game but however faded midway as they run out of steam only to go down 25-14, thus losing all sets.

Speaking during post-match interview, BDF VI coach Isiah Bannye credited the players for their valiant efforts despite a long break from playing.

“This was a brilliant performance following a very long break away from competitive volleyball and we are so impressed with the teams fitness level, but we cannot judge ourselves based on week one performance because the league is like a marathon,” he said.

Bannye said it was evident that players fitness levels were below par as most players faded as the game progressed, something which he was hopeful would improve during the course of the season.

He said going forward, the team would build on the weekend’s victory in competing for the league championship come end of the season.

 He said the absence of a league sponsor could impact the level and standard of the game and therefore pleaded with various business institution to come to the league’s rescue.

Meanwhile, in other games played over the weekend, Mafolofolo won 3-1 against Spiking Stars while Police VI earned a 3-0 victory Dikwena. Ends