Wooden spoon for Sevens team
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday December 2, 2014 12:49
The team finished in the 10th place out of the 12 countries that took part in the tournament. South Africa (academy) won the tournament and Kenya ended in the second position after coming in as the defending champions.
Botswana was beaten 33-7 by Madagascar in the first game; Zambia then gave them a 19-12 drabbing in the second match followed by a 19-10 loss at the hands of Senegal.
Botswana lost 17-12 to Tunisia. On the second day Botswana suffered a 29-0 defeat from South Africa. The Botswana team only won 17-7 against Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Selebi-Phikwe based Re Ba Bona Ha team has successfully defended the annual Lou Corbi schools tournament that was held in Bulawayo on Friday. The team was made up of Under 13 boys from the Phikwe centre and they included eight players from Maun Puppies team.
The leader of the delegation that travelled with the team, Tosca Segaise told Mmegi Sport that they managed to win the tournament for the second time in a row because of commitment from the coaches. Segaise mentioned that winning a tournament for the second time in a row is not easy because Zimbabwe is of the powerhouses in the continent.
He added that the Re ba bona ha team players did not allow themselves to be intimidated by their opponents.
Segaise said despite taking new players to the tournament, the passion and resilience saw them through. He said coaches that travelled with the team were Hendrick Friday, Joseph Letaya, Koobokile Koobokile and Batshabeng Keopetswe.
Segaise also explained that the tournament attracted 10 schools from Zimbabwe and it was meant to give Botswana players international exposure.
“The coaches that we took to the tournament we also making a debut at the tournament and they impressed. We are happy about the progress that is being made by the programme.
“We take different players to the tournament every year for continuity,” he said. Segaise said the programme is doing well and the results are coming up well. He stated that the programme, which is being funded by Debswana mining company, is assisting in taking kids from the streets.
He observed that Selebi-Phikwe and Maun areas have produced many rugby players and it is indication that with the right process in place, the players can go far. Segaise said the youngsters have shown courage and determination of seeing themselves playing for the national team.