Kutlwano Flexes Its Muscle Against Kalavango
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday June 11, 2018 12:58
They dominated and showed little respect to their opposition. Before two minutes, Kalavango were already leading 4-0.
Mphoentle Kapenda answered for Kutlwano a few minutes later with Kalavango looking set to run away with the set. Shadrack Kapeko scored a point for his side to reduce the margin to 7-2. Kalavango’s hard hitter, Percy Riaze attack levelled Tjiyapo Madeluka on the floor as he went for block. At that point, Kutlwano were now trailing 9-2. Kalavango players found the weakest link in Kutlwano in their libero. Most of the points were gained through him as he failed to make decisive blocks.
Kapeko got a point for his side to make it 14-8. Phemelo Lekoko rose above the net to punish Kutlwano with a brilliant spike and extended Kalavango’s lead to 17-8. The dominance of Kalavango forced Kutlwano’s coach, Isaac Samuel to call for time out and try to cool down his opposition at the same time.
Kutlwano came back as a better side in the second set. Tebogo Koobakile who joined The Big House during the transfer window from Itekeng netted a point to increase the margin to 4-2. Kalavango fluffed their chances and lost points through poor serves.
Kutlwano continued to enjoy the lead only for Riaze to level matters. Kapeko was on top form as he came out with a strong right hand to hammer home and extend the lead with a point. The lead did not last as Kutlwano players sold the set to Kalavango through the mistakes they made.
The third set was tough with both sides fighting neck-to-neck until the last whistle. Kutlwano won the set 26-24. Kalavango players seemed to have now lost concentration and easily lost another set 25-21.
The score line was now standing at 2-2, which took the game to a deciding set. Kalavango made it easy for Kutlwano to win the set.
Speaking to Sport Monitor after the match, Kalavango coach, Kabelo Marumo said he has been working more on the psychological aspects of the game.
“Kalavango is not experienced in high level volleyball. We have not been winning matches and in the last season we finished in position seven.
To give Kutlwano a scare is a motivation for the boys and of course we would have loved to win the match. As you know, last weekend we won against Police IV 3-2 coming from behind. That shows character,” he said.
Marumo said they started well in the first two sets and they were even leading the third set. He said unfortunately Kutlwano used their experience to break their game plan.
Kutlwano coach, Samuel, said when the game started they wanted to play quick volleyball, especially on transition.
He said this week they have been working on quick attack and they applied that in the two sets.
“That did not work for us and we shifted back to our normal game and slowed down. We wanted Kalavango to drop the momentum and that worked for us. Regarding Madeluka, he picked an injury while blocking and unfortunately we could not replace him because we did not have a second setter,” Samuel said.
Other results:
BDF IV 3-0 Desert Kings, Kalavango 3-0 Desert Kings, BDF IV 3-1 Kutlwano.
Line-ups
Kalavango: Ookeditse Mashaole, Daniel Siako, Masedi Ntoka, Tlhalefo Mongalelwa, Phemelo Lekoko, Tebogo Boago, Mothusi Marotho, Otlaatla Marumo, Cedrick Daniel, Riaze, and Bathusi Kebitsang.
Kutlwano: Kapeko, Libion Machae, Bongani Ipeleng, Reabetswe Jaba, Thabang Ramochele, Koobakile, Madeluka, Malcom Phemelo, Bakang Marumo, Kapenda and Tiro Lekwape.