Netball players hail Singapore sojourn
Lekopanye Mooketsi | Monday March 9, 2015 15:41
The young netballers returned home last month after they got invaluable exposure in the Asian country. The four players are Notwane’s Sarona Hans, Hildah Binang (BDF Cats), Letang Mogotlhwane (Jungle Queens) and Violet Oneile (UB Crystals).
Hans who at 16 was the youngest, said they gained invaluable experience in the six team Singapore league. “We have learnt so many things,” she said. Hans has learnt how she can up her game in terms of defending and attacking.
She said their coach was always willing to listen and did whatever she could to help her. She said their stay in Singapore was vibrant both on and off the field. “I always had something to do. Life was great,” she said. She stated that the Singapore netball authorities always took them out to interesting places twice a week. Another player who went to Singapore, Mogotlhwane said they were well taken care of and had a fabulous time. She said the Singapore league is competitive because it has six teams only. She has managed to improve her game when it comes to jumps and general movement in the field. Her confidence as a player has also improved. She has also learnt about time management because in Singapore people are punctual. “They know how to keep time and I wish we could be able to do this,” she said.
A self confessed introvert, Mogotlhwane said she is now able to interact with other people. “I used to keep to myself,” she said.
Botswana Netball Association (BONA) spokesperson, Kelebogile Maplanka said one of the factors that they considered when they selected the four players was youth. She believes the experience they have gained will benefit the country when it hosts the netball World Cup in 2017.
She said in essence, they were targeting three players; a shooter, defender and mid-court player. However, she said one of the players who was earmarked for the programme, Boikanyo Selogetso, a shooter could not make it due to injury.