Volleyball startowers above the rest

| Friday February 11, 2011 00:00

 

Mmegi Sport: Tell us about yourself?

Ribbin: I was born on Christmas Day in 1982. I am the first-born and I have three sisters. I was born and bred in Nkange in the Central District.

Mmegi Sport: What attracted you to volleyball?

Ribbin: Just the belief that volleyball is for tall players. When I got to Nkange Junior Secondary School, one teacher called Mmamaphorisa recruited me to the game. But sport was not something that was really close to my heart. Since I was at a boarding school, I trained to pass time after classes.

But I stopped playing when I was doing Form Four at McConnell College in Tutume. I started playing again after joining the police. I played for Kutlwano in 2005 and joined Police in 2006, the same year that I got a call up to the national team.

I also won the best blocker award in the Debswana tournament that year. This was the year when I really started taking my volleyball career seriously.

Mmegi Sport: What sport would you be playing if you were not a volleyballer?

Ribbin: Probably softball as I tried it when I was young. Just like any other boy, I also tried football at some point.

Mmegi Sport: Why did your team show a lot of improvement last season?

Ribbin: It was after coach Daniel Ngozi joined us from Diphatsa in 2009. He is such an inspiring coach. He told us that we had the potential and all we needed was to work hard. He told us that he wanted us to finish among the top four in the league.

Mmegi Sport: You recently got three honours (best blocker, scorer and attacker) during the Mascom Volleyball League awards. What does this mean to you?

Ribbin: I am really excited that at the end of it all, my hard work paid. It means that I did my best and I was a cut above the rest. But I did not do it alone. I managed (to achieve this) because of teamwork. I cannot really say what will happen next. My intention is to continue playing and we will see what comes out of it. I want to at least retain one of the three awards next season.

Mmegi Sport: Who is your favourite local player?

Ribbin: Kutlwano men's Shadrack Kapeko has always been my inspiration. I found him at Kutlwano and he believed in me.

He always encouraged me to train harder. He is one person who really made me see the importance of sport.

Mmegi Sport: Do you think volleyball is growing in Botswana?

Ribbin: Yes it is growing though there is still room for improvement. With the Mascom sponsorship, we have seen tremendous improvement both in team and individual performance. I think with more sponsors, the game will grow to greater heights.

Mmegi Sport: Is there anything that you think needs to be changed about the game?

Ribbin: Yes. I think there is a need for transparency, particularly in fixturing. In a way, it looks like some teams are deliberately favoured.