Botswana looks to banish bitter Davis Cup memories

Mqondisi Dube | Friday July 25, 2025 17:03

On a warm July afternoon, in front of a vociferous crowd, Denzel Seetso held all the aces, as he pushed Botswana to the brink of promotion to Division IV. In fact, at one stage of the match, it was a matter of when not if Seetso would wrap up the match. Across the court, was the intimidating gangly figure of Gabonese player, Herve Antchandie. Antchandie is a willy-old fox and has been exposed to some top levels of tennis, but here he was, a set down, and Seetso saving for the match at 5-0 in the second set. A win for Seetso would have seen Botswana progress to the fourth division, and it appeared a mere formality at that stage. But little did the bellowing crowd know that the Gabon star had something up his sleeve. Below the raucous melodies of the home fans, a storm was bubbling. Up to that point, Antchandie had seemed disinterested and dejected, resigned to handing the match to Seetso who had been unplayable up to that point. Antchandie spring up like a whirlwind, and within seconds he was battering Seetso from all angles, delivering an assortment of missiles from backhands to aces, all served with chilling accuracy. Seetso buckled under pressure despite efforts from the crowd to lift the local favourite. 5-0 became 5-1, then 5-2 whilst the fans kept hope that Seetso needed just one service game to wrap up the business. But Antchandie was unrelenting and he sent booming drives on his way to a truly shocking 7-5 victory.

The National Tennis Centre fell silent as the up to then subdued Gabon camp, found its voice. It was a stunning upset which was aptly summed as salvaging defeat from the jaws of victory. Now 12 months later, Botswana has been presented with a picture perfect opportunity to erase the bitter memories of last year's winter. It is more or less the same faces who are tasked with delivering promotion to Division IV. Seetso is still the team's top seed, with Mark Nawa and Ntungamili Raguin participating in the first two assignments against Libya on Wednesday and Congo yesterday. Botswana cruised to identical 3-0 wins over their opponents, and they are all but guaranteed progress to the promotion play-off spot on Saturday. Today (Friday) Botswana will play Ethiopia with the winner progressing to the last four phases. Progress to the promotion play-off match did not prove a problem for Botswana last year, and they are in cruise control again this year.

However, the headache could come at the last hurdle where either Cameroon or Madagascar will lie in wait. Madagascar and Cameroon meet to decide the winner of Group B, whilst Botswana will face their sternest test since the competition began, when they play Ethiopia. Captain Phenyo Matong has shuffled his cards in the first two matches where Seetso, Nawa, Raguin, and Tsholofelo Tsiang played the four singles ties on the opening day, whilst Nawa teamed up with Tsiang in the doubles on day one. On Thursday, Tsiang and Nawa took part in the singles against Congo, whilst Raguin moved to partner with Esi Molefe in the doubles. Eyes will be on Matong on how he will set up the team against Ethiopia today, and potentially for the promotional play-off on Saturday. The headache is likely on the second singles player between Nawa and Raguin with Seetso a sure bet for the other spot. Meanwhile, the tournament kicked off on Wednesday with an official opening ceremony presided over by the Speaker of National Assembly, Dithapelo Keorapetse.

Botswana Tennis Association president, Oaitse Thipe said it is a good development for the country to host tennis' premier competition. 'We are truly honoured to host this prestigious competition again, the largest Davis Cup competition in Africa,' Thipe said. 'Global tournaments like the Davis Cup attract international athletes, their families, coaches, and officials who will use our local hotels, airline, and restaurants, thereby contributing to the economy and positioning Botswana to be a destination for global sporting events,' he added.