Netball's World Cup bid receives boost
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday June 25, 2022 06:00
The tournament will be held in neighbouring South Africa, with Cape Town as the host city, the first time the Netball World Cup comes to Africa.
The Botswana Netball Association (BONA) believes the women's team will be part of the tournament after receiving assistance from Netball South Africa. BONA spokesperson, Mokeresete Mokeresete said the most important thing right now is to qualify for the first senior Netball World Cup to be held in Africa.
He said Netball South Africa made a deliberate decision to have BONA as a beneficiary of the Netball World Cup Legacy Project. “They intend to help us in all aspects to redeem our glory days that are in coaching, umpiring administration, and governance,” he said.
Mokeresete said the benefits of being part of the World Cup Legacy include a head coach for the senior women’s national team sponsored by Spar South Africa, training, and accreditation of coaches and umpires.
The coach is Jenny Van Dyk who will be with the team at the Africa Netball World Cup qualifiers. The qualifiers are scheduled for Pretoria in August. Mokeresete said the coach would be with the team whether they qualify or not until the 2023 World Cup. He said they expect Van Dyk to play a pivotal role in assisting Botswana to book a space at the World Cup.
“There is administration empowerment, a sprung floor which costs R2.8 million.
BONA will receive 100 Netball World Cup white t-shirts for players, 100 black t-shirts, legacy t-shirts, which are to be sold at P350 and empowerment of one female broadcasting person who will be attached to Supersport television station throughout the games,” he said. Meanwhile, the senior national team that comprises 22 players goes into camp today (Friday).
The team
Fatima Dino (Police), Letang Mogotlhwane (Police), Pearl Maribe (Police), Barati Phesodi (Police), Kgomotso Matibini (Police), Cheludo David (Police), Patricia Olyn (Police), Oarabile Thapo (Tasc), Florah Keeditse (Tasc), Kelebogile Mangole (Tasc), Margaret Banda (Tasc), Gosego Tsele (BDF Cats), Maungo Simone (BDF Cats), Tshegofatso Thabuswe (BDF Cats), Obakeng Ramodibana (BDF Cats), Tsaone Tshegofatso (BDF Cats), Hildah Binang (BDF Cats), Tumisang Bagidi (Notwane), Maipelo Mosotho (UB Crystal), Ntebogang Motlakaloso (Prisons), and Boitumelo Gabasame (Thunderbolts).