BDF VI Remain Firm Despite Kalavango's Humiliation
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday October 15, 2018 12:47
BDF started the season on a bad note after their six starting players as well as the coach quit. The only players that remained behind were Sesha Matswiri and Tebo Makokwe.
It was a blow for the SSKB based side, which was forced to rebuild from scratch. On Saturday, Kalavango started the match by taking the war to BDF who seemed to be out of place.
The players were slow to react and their passes could not connect. That weakness saw Kalavango winning the first set 25-12. Kalavango continued where they left off with two quick scores to start the second set through Ngirl Wright and Unami Tupane. BDF pulled one back to make it 2-1, but loss of concentration gave Kalavango an opportunity to increase the lead to 4-2.
BDF got back into the game and took over the lead as the game continued. The side was comfortably leading 11-8 after the introduction of Onneile Tsheole. Kalavango did not allow BDF to continue leading the set as Monica Alfred used her experience to score a drop ball and bring her side back into the game.
BDF continued fighting with the aim of winning the set. That was not going to be an easy feat as Kalavango had to dig deep to throw the lead to 16-12. Wright went airborne to punish her opponent and gave Kalavango a healthy lead of 19-15. The side cruised away to grab the set with a 25-19 scoreline.
BDF came back strongly in the last set taking a 7-2 lead in the first few minutes.
The lead threw Mildred Botsang into a foul mood as she scored two quick points. Jacqueline Otsogile answered for BDF to narrow the margin to 9-8 before Alfred levelled matters at 9 all. Kalavango brought in the fresh legs of Ndambo Abdrioano replacing Botsang.
Her arrival gave the side a new lease of life as they dominated the set and won it 25-23.
Speaking to Sport Monitor afterwards, BDF coach, Andrew Moleleke said it was unfortunate that his players failed to stick to the game plan. He said his chargers seemed to be scared of their opponents.
“My players have been responding well during training this week. It has been an interesting season for us. “We lost senior players, regrouped and we won games.
It is part of the game. All you have to do is plan,” he said. For his part, Isaac Thenjelani of Kalavango said he has been training without senior players due to injuries. He said his strategy against BDF was to serve for them and block.
Thenjelani said they normally have a problem with starting the third set, but they have been working on it this week.
Other women’s results: Dynamites 3-0 Yaros and Kalavango 3-0 Yaros.