2006 Women's World Championship
Botswana women gain in face of defeat (FIVB)
04/03/2005
Gaborone,
Botswana, April 3, 2005 - Despite returning home last
week from the 2006 Women’s World Championship first
round tournament (Africa Pool A) in Cairo, Egypt empty
handed, the Botswana women’s national Volleyball team
still had something to smile about.
During the tournament, which finished on March 19,
Botswana lost all of its games (against Egypt, Nigeria
and South Africa), however some individual players
proved their worth in international competitions to be
ranked among the top ten African players. Pic: Botswana on defence against Egypt (green) during
the 2006 Women’s World Championship first round
tournament (Africa Pool A) in Cairo, Egypt National captain Tshepo Serwe, proved her leadership
skills when she was ranked number seven among the best
spikers, number eight among the best diggers and number
three among the best receivers.
The excited Serwe said; “I feel very excited and
honoured to have been chosen among the best, even though
I feel I didn’t do enough. As a captain, I think one has
to show some good leadership, but I give all the credit
to my team-mates as I would not have made it without
them.”
Serwe said she felt that the team still needed training
in various skills as it was left wanting in some
aspects.
“I feel that the overall team effort was not enough as
we still need to be taught some Volleyball basics. We
also lack a lot of skill looking at how the other teams
played and I think we need to be trained in this regard.
“Again we were not physically fit since our preparation
was not enough, but I feel that despite our defeats, the
team played well,” Serwe said.
Other players who were ranked amongst the top ten in
different categories were Masego Hosia, Lekedzani Bayi,
Tsholofelo Retshabile and Boitumelo Tshwanelo.
Botswana team manager Waboraro Mokgatla said the
opposition were tough, hence the need for his team to
have prepared well for the games.
“It was a great competition, with some great competitive
matches and we did the best we could. The other teams
really came out prepared and had more international
experience, while our preparation time was very short.
We did not have any practice matches and I think this is
the other thing that contributed to our downfall,”
Mokgatla said.
However, he said a lack of indoor facilities contributed
a lot to the team’s poor performance, adding that
otherwise the local teams could have improved their
level of play to a higher standard and would be able to
compete well on international assignments.
“I think we adjusted too late so our mental game was
poor and I think the team also lacked power and that is
why our opponents outplayed us. We have learnt a lot
from their play and I think the team has improved,”
Mokgatla added.
However, Mokgatla observed that even though the women
faired badly, the individual display by some players was
something to smile about.
Meanwhile, the men’s team will make its first ever
appearance in the 2006 Men’s World Championship at a
first round tournament (Africa Pool B) in South Africa
on April 8-10.
