Netball woes thwart Maribe's progress
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday June 19, 2020 13:28
She put on outstanding performances for the junior national netball side, as she rubbed shoulders with the game’s rising stars.
However, due to lack of netball action, the player has slid into oblivion.
Netball has not been played since 2018. Now Maribe fears this would crush her dream of playing the sport abroad, with New Zealand her preferred destination.
“Lack of action has affected me in the sense that now I cannot compete with other players. I cannot gauge myself looking at new players who come with different techniques and styles. Training and playing with my teammates everyday does not really assist me much because I already know their strengths and weaknesses and therefore I would not know whether I am improving or not,” a disappointed Maribe said.
The 24-year-old started playing netball in 2006 as a young Standard Four pupil in Mochudi. She was much into football, volleyball and traditional dance, with netball only part of the Physical Education lessons.
“My teacher, Winnie Setoutwe noticed my potential in netball and pushed me to play up to a point that I also started to believe in myself. I decided to drop other codes and focus on netball,” she said.
She made her debut for Prisons Club during the 2011-2012 season, where Thebe Kgosi coached her. Maribe moved to her current club, Police, in 2013. “Growing up as a player my role model was Tumisang Bagidi from Notwane Club,” she said.
The then little known Maribe rose to stardom when she was selected to the Under-21 netball squad, popularly known as Dinaletsana.
She went on to prove that her selection into the squad was not a fluke, as she became one of the best shooters in the tournament. “I went through selections like any other player. Hard work, discipline, teamwork, dedication and my hunger to play and leave my own mark, catapulted me into the team,” she said.
Maribe said it was a defining moment for her because it was her first international tournament and she was looking forward to learning new things from players from other countries.
Maribe, who is a police officer based at Gaborone West, said the game that she enjoyed most was the opener against Malaysia. Dinaletsana won the game 72-26.
“During the world cup I learnt shooting techniques, movement of a shooter and defending against a shooter,” she added.
Maribe’s coach at Police, Tshegofatso Monyama said the player has vision and is versatile. “You can use her as a shooter or as a mid-court player. She is popularly remembered as a shooter from her marvellous performance during the World Cup. However, I won the My Spar My Botswana netball league with her playing mid court (WA),” he said.
Monyama said the challenge is that there is no motivation in netball. The last action was in 2018 and that was the last time she played. There are fears that lack of action might hinder her talent.
“I started to work with Pearl in 2015 when she was 19 years. She was a difficult player, but I was patient with her. I understood that she was young but she was talented in netball. Sometimes she would decide to skip training. I told her to believe in herself because she had a bright future in netball,” Monyama said.
He said in the end, the player proved her mettle and, through netball, she was hired by the Botswana Police Service.
“She is a strong player and can play anywhere in the world if only our netball was active and players were engaged. Our players are disadvantaged by poor netball. She can try her luck in the senior national team or the Under-25. Her height might disadvantage her for the senior team,” he said.
Botswana Netball Association secretary general, Ntebo Maplanka is Maribe’s biggest fan. Maplanka, who rates Maribe highly, said she sees her own style of play during her days. Maplanka was a notable netballer.
“She has a play similar to mine and is very nippy in approach. I have not had time to work with her one-on-one. But I admired her play from my end, because honestly I see amazing talent in her,” Maplanka said.
“She plays netball with so much poise and there is no struggle in her movement. Pearl needs a mentor to assist her (to) reach (her) best (potential).”
She said Maribe does not play an ordinary game as she mixes her moves and passes with a lot of complexity that makes her stand out from her peers. FACT FILE Full names: Boitshoko Pearl Maribe Date of birth: May 5, 1996 Place of birth: Mochudi Sport: Netball Position: Goal Attack (GA) Club: Police Height: 1.69m