Dynamites� dream close to reality
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday November 11, 2016 13:47
He had said his team will beat one of the traditional giants to herald a new era.
At the launch of Zac Construction’s sponsorship deal with the club in June this year, the coach had said his dream was to finish in a position that will take them to the Zone VI Club Championships this year, adding that his girls should be in a position to dominate the southern African region by 2020.
The dream appears to be turning into reality. Dynamites beat Kutlwano 3-2 in the match, the defending champions had all their best arsenal on the field, including the hard-hitting Tracy Chaba who was rendered irrelevant in the match by the excellent blocking of 19-year olds, Koketso Seile and Neo Keitumele. Beating Kutlwano was a first for Dynamites, and it confirmed the coach’s words after their narrow 3-1 loss to the same opponent in September when he said a win over Kutlwano was not far off.
“Our excellent performance in our match against Kutlwano was indicative of a bright future for our players. Even when we lost to BDF VI in October, I told the players I was happy with their performance, that they have now reached a stage where I can confidently say they can beat anyone. Our victory against Kutlwano on Saturday confirmed that,” he said.
Tlhaselo said the secret to their rapid growth was letting them play without pressure since he started working on his Vision 2016 project in 2013.
“Those years we were losing matches, but the players were always reminded that our plan was never to win games. Even last year they knew they were playing to grow and not to win that is why they were never devastated by the losses. We have managed to keep the girls together because of this shared vision. That is why it has been difficult for the big guns to recruit them. They knew their time to become a big team would come as well,” he said.
The masterstroke, he said, was when he recruited former Mafolofolo and national team captain, Tshepo Molosiwa at the end of the league’s first round.
For all the years, he has been the sole coach of the team, but felt that the time was now right for him to find someone who would fit into his vision.
“For me Molosiwa was the best bet. She had been an inspirational captain at Mafolofolo and the national team and was the best passer of the ball during her time. My team’s weakness had always been in the passing department and I needed someone who would complement me, someone who would inspire the players. I had shared my vision with her but for over a year she declined my offer to come and assist me.
However, when Zac Construction came on board to assist us as a sponsor, she started taking me seriously and eventually resigned from Mafolofolo to work with me. We now make a great team and the spirit at the team is unbelievable.”
This week the team got a boost when they were credited with points from their protest against Kutlwano for a game they played in May, and this could help them end the season in the top three. They play Mag Stimela and Selebi-Phikwe tomorrow, two teams they have never lost to, which could propel them to position three if Kalavango lose to BDF VI on the same day.
After the weekend, Dynamites will be left with four games to conclude their season. They will play BDF VI, Kalavango and have two duels against Mafolofolo.
Tlhaselo does not rule out the possibility of winning them all to finish as high as second.
“Kalavango and BDF VI have always been stronger than us, but we have already beaten both this season. We can do that again in the coming weeks. Mafolofolo remains the only side we are yet to beat, but as I always tell the players, they only beat us because the young girls still give them a lot of respect.
Ahead of the game against Kutlwano last Friday, I told them to ignore the Kutlwano name and instead, put our opponents under pressure from the start. The girls eventually did it, and it is the same approach we will use against Mafolofolo if we are to eventually beat them,” he said.
Dynamites were recently invited to participate at the Zone VI Club Championships. Teams that finished in the top four positions at the end of first round were invited.
“We will benefit in terms of exposure and experience, and this could help the youngsters believe more in their ability to play and beat any club,” he added.
This is in addition to five of the Dynamites players making the Under 23 squad that recently played the Africa Nations Cup. These developments have given Tlhaselo the belief that his team will be hard to beat next year.
“My patience is finally paying off. We struggled over the years with the same players, and my promise to them that they will eventually become great kept them together until now. But we continue to take it one step at a time,” he stated.