Netballers call for support

NELSON DIRENG
Correspondent | Monday September 13, 2010 00:00

 

The national team recently returned from Pretoria, South Africa after qualifying for the 2011 Netball World Cup in Singapore.

Botswana came second after regional powerhouse South Africa at the Africa qualifiers held in Pretoria last week. Head of delegation, Gracious Seru, said by participating in international tournaments, Botswana stands a better chance of performing better against top countries at the World Cup.

She said Botswana world rankings have dropped two spots to number 18 because of lack of international games.

'The recent Africa qualifiers will raise Botswana's current rankings, but we look forward to further improving them,' she said. Botswana, South Africa and Malawi are the African campaigners in the World Cup.

Malawi is ranked seventh in the world and finished fifth at the previous World Cup.

South Africa is currently at number six.

With sponsorship, BONA plans on taking the national team to Singapore in December.

BONA president, Tebogo Lebotse, said it would have been better if the team tours Europe prior to the World Cup, because the standard of netball in the continent is higher than Asia.

She said that if possible, they would take the team to Singapore and then Europe, since their mandate is to win the World Cup.

'Our annual budget from the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) does not allow us to participate in these activities which is why we are appealing to the public for sponsorship,' she said.

Although Botswana was at a disadvantage because of lack of international exposure at the Africa qualifiers, they only lost once against South Africa.

Seru said although they won most of their games, she realised other countries had more physically-imposing players.

'The advantage our players had over others is passion, which is why we won most of our games,' she said. Seru said from now on, they will concentrate on the team's tactical strength.

'We need to upgrade our play to sustain performance,' she said.

Meanwhile, team captain, Portia Rasekhumba emerged best attacker and fourth best accurate shooter at the Africa qualifiers.

Teams that were vying for the two World Cup slots in Pretoria included, Tanzania, Namibia, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe.