Youthful netball squad off to Singapore

Thato Kala | Friday December 5, 2014 21:56

 

That year, the netball Zebras were on a high, which saw them finishing second in the highly competitive games. This time, Botswana kick off their Six Nations campaign on Sunday and the technical team is expected to give junior players a run.

They start off with Ireland in the first match on Sunday before taking on the hosts and Samoa the next day.  They lock horns with Malaysia on Tuesday with the last match being against Papua New Guinea on Thursday. 

Captain Portia Rasekhumba of UB Crystal, BDF Cats’ duo of Hildah Binang and Ntebogang Motlakaloso and Notwane’s Tumisang Bagidi will be expected to lead the predominantly youthful team.

National Under-17 captain Sarona Hans, only 17, is the youngest player in the squad and gets a taste of Singapore before her move to the Singapore’s Netball Super League (NSL) next month.

Hans will join an NSL club on January 23 on a two-month spell.

The youngster is elated about the trip to Singapore and believes it will be an eye opener for her and five other senior team rookies.

The other new faces are Boikanyo Selogetse, who shone like a beacon during the Africa Youth Games early this year, Chedza Matshaba, Ndabaka Dumuwa and Letang Mokgotlhwane. “We are all excited about the trip to Singapore. We feel it will give us some international exposure,” Hans told Mmegi Sport shortly before departure.

Botswana Netball Association (BONA) president Tebogo Lebotse-Sebego also believes the inclusion of the youngsters is a giant step towards the team’s 2017 preparations. “It’s quite crucial for them because I am of the opinion that international exposure is key in speeding up the players’ development.

“Our players are not exposed to a very competitive league or tournaments because the playing field there is very different,” she said.

She is aware the players have all had a dance with the junior national teams, but is convinced facing countries like Samoa, Ireland, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia during the week-long tournament will make a huge difference in their development. “They have played at regional level and for junior national teams, but Singapore presents a different ball game altogether.

“I am very excited about the prospects; our youngest player, Sarona, is barely 17.” Lebotse-Sebego said expectations are that they do better this time around despite not participating in the annual tournament since their last appearance five years ago.