Victorious Matlhatsi targets top ranking
Kabelo Boranabi | Tuesday February 23, 2016 13:31
“I would like to be best player by the end of the season. I just have to win six of the nine tournaments that we participate in this year then I will be sure of a top finish,” he told Mmegi Sport after his final league game on Saturday.
Matlhatsi, however, said he faces a mammoth task as one day tournaments demand more from a player. “Playing in the league is far better because you know who you will be facing and you will have time to prepare for them, while tournaments are rather difficult because you do not know (until late) who you play,” said the country’s second-ranked player. Matlhatsi dethroned his long time rival, Bonolo Mabote, from the championship although he lost to his rival 4-2 in the final game of the league.
“I do not think the sport is growing because the competition is always between me and him (Mabote). The youngsters should take it upon themselves to challenge for honours with us. We are ageing so they should use this to their advantage,” he advised.
In the women’s section, Smash Maniacs’ Boitshwarelo Butale successfully defended her title despite losing a highly contested final game to top seed Tshepiso Rebatenne of Nhabe Table Tennis Club.
Midway thorough the game, the women were locked at 2-2 neither really looking to be having a firmer grip on the game. Rebatenne won the first set, but Butale drew level in the sixth set as they went for a decider.
The champion showed signs of frustration as she made a series of unforced errors thus giving her opponent an upper hand. The set had to go down to the wire as Rebatenne won 11-10, to win the game 4-3.
The winners walked away with P5,000 cash, runners up with P3,500 while the third place pocketed P1,500. They will officially receive their prizes at a prize giving ceremony to be held at a later date.