Olyn’s slow speed reveals the sleeping giant in her
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday January 27, 2024 06:00
For the towering Police Netball Club player, her slow moves are her best arsenal. This is a technique she has relied upon throughout her netball career, as it often allows her time to make calculative moves and calm down the game. In an interview with MmegiSport, Olyn revealed that the strategy has always worked well for her and even better for her team members, especially when pressure from the opponent tends to mount. "Perhaps it is just me, but I have learned to use this technique to take off the steam from opponents," Olyn explained.
Olyn was off the hook scoring a goal after another at the weekend during the first round of the Lucara Botswana Netball League South Zone games. As usual, she was instrumental when Police beat Notwane 52-29 before edging Jwaneng 52-47. The 36-year-old revealed that as she was growing up playing netball, she was often overlooked for more speedy players because her school coaches and national team selectors considered her as too slow to help win games. "In those days, selection was done by teachers. I was determined to play the sport I like very much and for that reason I did not give up. I am literally leaving my dream," said Olyn.
She is today one of the most experienced players in the country and has been playing club netball at Police since 2006 and is a key player there. Back in the days when she played school netball, Olyn did not allow the disappointment of always playing second fiddle to her peers to weigh her down and kill her dream. She says at one time when she went to Morama Junior Secondary School, she was forced to switch to playing volleyball, but with one eye focused on netball as she would be occasionally roped in to assist as a goal shooter. Olyn said it was not until she was admitted to Moeding College in 2006 that she decided to pursue her passion for netball, adding that since then her star has been rising. "I played for the school team and Police recruited me while I was a student at Moeding. I have been a goal shooter and a goal attacker in my entire netball career," said Olyn. "My role as a goal shooter is to score goals, and for me to be on target most of the time, it is important that I stay calm, especially when pressure mounts from the opponent.”
The Takatokwane native said she enjoys herself more when playing against BDF Cats, a formidable side on any day. Olyn made her maiden appearance for the national senior women's team in 2017 when she was part of the squad that participated in the Namibia Pent Series. She made her junior national team debut in 2009 when she was selected as a member of the U-21 that travelled to the Cook Islands. "Playing for country was a dream come true because I had always harboured the dream to represent Botswana at that level," mused Olyn. Olyn, a police officer at Borakanelo in Gaborone, said netball in Botswana has developed to greater heights, with a lot of youngsters taking to the sport. Olyn said while her slow pace has worked well for her and team mates, some still find it hard to absorb her style. "My unique style is still posing a challenge to some people," she observed.
“My ritual before any match is to go down on my knees to thank God for the talent He has given me." Her coach, Latto Monyama described Olyn as a disciplined player who is always willing to learn. “I don't think she is given enough chance to prove herself. I honestly think that she deserves to be in the national team looking at her accuracy, but the coaches feel otherwise," said Monyana. Olyn singled out Silver Ferns of New Zealand as her favourite club internationally.
FACT FILE
Full names: Patricia Elizabeth Olyn Date of birth: August 5, 1988 Place of birth: Jwaneng Home village: Takatokwane Profession: Police Officer Club: Botswana Police Netball Club Height: 1.7 meters Shoe size: 7 Hand: Right handed Hobbies: Listening to music Favourite player: Irene Van Dyk (retired) Favourite meal: Mashed potatoes, green salad and fried beef