Under-23 volleyball team goes into camp

Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday January 24, 2017 15:54

The championship was scheduled to be held last year after the women’s competition, but initial hosts, South Africa pulled out at the last minute.   The Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF) vice president, George Keotsene said Algeria agreed to host the competition last week.  “Our team went into camp today (yesterday) and preparations for the championship have commenced.  We hope the team would have enough time to prepare unlike in the past whereby preparations always started late,” he said.

Keotsene said Botswana has not been competing in junior tournaments in the past and only started last year with the women’s team.

He said other countries have junior structures and the players are used to playing with each other. Keotsene said due to lack of resources, Botswana has not been able to compete in junior team competitions.  Keotsene said the plan is to assemble the teams and make sure that they get exposure and experience that is needed at national level. He said they also intend to come up with teams for other lower age groups in the near future.

Keotsene said the fixtures for the upcoming championship are not yet out, but the usual suspects; Morocco, Tunisia, Kenya and Egypt are expected to attend.

 

The team:

Otsile Sebopelo (Spiking Stars), Jack Sekao (Diphatsa), Akanyang Shamu (Kalavango), Lekwape Tiro (Kutlwano), Kgosiemang Oaitse (Diphatsa), Thato Setshogo (Spiking Stars), Bankgaotsi Will (Kutlwano), Mpho Mphitlhang (Spiking Stars), Bofelo Dima (Itekeng), Mahlunge Emmanuel (Mafolofolo), Magetse Oarabile (Mafolofolo), Malcom Phemelo (Magstimela), Banthusi Rahii (Magstimela), Oagile Roy (Diphatsa), Dithapelo Rangaka (Spiking Stars) and Mpphoente Kapenda (Diphatsa).