The games were part of the Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF) national league. BDF defeated Mafolofolo 3-2 (25-17,20-25, 25-18, 25-27 and 15-11). BDF coach, Daniel Baoki, told SportMonitor that hot conditions made the game difficult for players and to make matters worse, officials failed to grant players much needed rehydration breaks. Baoki mentioned that when it is too hot, players cannot give out their best more especially women ones. He said preparations ahead of the game went according to plan, although some of the players such as Jestinah Tumagole and Sesha Matswiri went into the game against Mafolofolo with some injuries. He said the opponents knew the impact the two could have even when struggling with injuries.
He added that despite the knocks, the two players assisted the team to walk away with maximum points. “We were also affected by mindset because Mafolofolo plays intelligent volleyball, and we struggled to counter that. My players needed just to be trained well, so that they reach that level. What is important is that we won. I cannot say we did not play well. Remember that Mafolofolo kicked us out of the Zone VI championships in December. They know our weaknesses but we did not come here for revenge,” he said. Mafolofolo coach, Boitumelo Botsang, said they played the game under hot conditions and it is painful when they request for hydration break and officials refuse adding that it becomes difficult for the players. “The heat takes a lot from the players. it means I will now use my timeout for water breaks and when the need arises for a timeout, it is risky. The other thing is that I do not have a large pool of players. At one point, Chada Majaha went down, during that moment, I was worried,” he said.
Botsang said the biggest challenge is that there are no funds. As such, sometimes they are forced to reduce the number of training days in a week. He said the club does not have a home base, which means they keep moving around requesting for a training venue. “We played well, but I feel we were killed by court movement; we were a bit slow. When you are slow, it means you are not able to receive the ball properly to be able to play position three, which today, it had an opportunity to score many points for us. We were forced to score to square outside balls, score with them and they made soft attack on them. Our setter has not been playing for a long time but she responded well,” he said. Reacting to going to an extra set, Botsang said his aim all the time when playing against BDF is to play four sets because his players do not train properly. He said he always avoids playing five sets.
Other results: Saturday: Women: Spiking Stars 3-0 Mag Stimela, Mafolofolo 3-0 Dikwena and Police 3-1 Mag Stimela. Men: Mafolofolo 3-0 Dikwena, Police 3-0 Mag Stimela, Itekeng 3-2 Mafolofolo, Kutlwano 3-1 Motlakase, Kutlwano 3-0 Sebokeng, Prisons 3-1 Blockbusters, Mag Stimela 3-2 Spiking Stars and Kutlwano 3-1 Sebokeng. Sunday: Women: Police 3-0 Yaros and Kalavango 3-1 Dynamites. Men: Kalavango 3-2 Spiking Stars and Police 3-0 Yaros.
