Botswana stars face off in Singapore League opener

Thato Kala | Friday January 23, 2015 17:19

The NSL is set to commence in a special setting, as the first round of games will be played at the OCBC Arena, Singapore Sports Hub before moving over to Toa Payoh Sports Hall. Binang, who makes her second stint, represents Mission Mannas this time and is overjoyed about facing her home girl, Mogotlhwane, a talented goal defender, straight after the official opening ceremony.

“It’s obviously exciting to play against her team. I hope to help my team win it,” Binang told Mmegi Sport. During her previous stay in the south-east Asian country, she turned out for Sneakers Stingrays.

Binang’s Mission Mannas are Singapore’s defending champions and she admits they have a tough task of retaining their title, as they will be missing national players like Premila Hirubalan,

Charmaine Soh and Ang Shi Qi this year. The Botswana goal attacker, Binang, believes Mogotlhwane’s Dolphins are also capable of wresting the league title from her team.

Binang has previously played against Singapore national shooter Chen Huifen in last year’s Five Nations Cup hosted by the island country and the 2014 NSL and singles her out as her team’s biggest threat in tomorrow’s game.

“They also have former Singapore shooter, sister to Tan Hui Yan,” she added. In other matches, youth international Sarona Hans’ M1 Sunfish take on Tiger Sharks in their opening match of the season.

The 17-year-old is excited about being part of the youngest team in the NSL.

The Notwane wing defender explained: “M1 Sunfish is made up of the Under 21 Singapore national team players.  “The reason they are placed in the league is because the team is preparing for some tournament that will be ongoing this year.”

She is convinced they have what it takes to stake a challenge for the title after her weeklong training with them. Another local player, goal shooter, Violet Oneile’s Magic Marlins lock horns with Stingrays.

There will be a total of five rounds before the semi-finals, which will be on 14 February.  Thereafter, the Botswana quartet will return home.

While in Singapore, the players will get to train with the Singapore national teams, which is part of the programme.