Tough battles expected in regional volleyball championship

MOSAH MOKGANEDI
Correspondent | Friday December 10, 2010 00:00

 

Focus will be on defending champions, Kutlwano, whose men and women teams will be under pressure to retain their titles on home soil. The competition has attracted 13 men and 10 women's teams from seven Southern African countries. Kutlwano is aware that it is going to be tough but their teams have promised to live up to the challenge.

Kutlwano women captain, Lekedzani Bayi said they are under pressure as local fans want them to maintain their high standards. 'That local fans expect a lot from us is pressure enough but we are strong enough to perform well,' she said. She said the team underwent a rigorous training and morale is very high. Bayi said their coach has psyched them for the challenge. 'We are not going to take any team lightly just because we are defending champions,' she said. She said they have met most of the participating teams before and beating them should not be a problem. Bayi appealed to Batswana to come in large numbers to support local clubs. Other local clubs taking part in the competition are Mafolofolo and Kalavango (women) and BDF VI, Police and Diphatsa (men).

Kutlwano coach, Isaac Samuel conceded that it will be a tough challenge but said they have done everything to prepare for the competition. He said his sides will be the target of most teams who will be out to dethrone them.

Samuel said they know all the participating teams save for one from Mozambique, which has not participated in past competitions. Samuel picked Lomahasha of Swaziland and the Bulldogs of Zimbabwe as some of the teams likely to give them tough competition. Other teams that will take part in the competition are AAM-Associacao men and women (Mozambique), Khomas Nampol and National Defence Force (NDF) from Namibia. Jewel Stars, Dolphins, Bulldogs, Hawks Volleyball Club (Zimbabwe), Red Skins, Lesotho Defence Force, LMPS (Lesotho). South Africa will only send women teams - University of Western Cape and Super Kids.