The Botswana Rugby Union (BRU) has vowed to keep the winning momentum going within the national Seven’s team. This comes after the Vultures 7’s men team, under the mentorship of returnee coach, Andrew Paxinos, snatched silverware, a first for the sport at international level. The team won the Bowls section during the past weekend’s Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) and the Castle Sevens tournaments, both held in Zambia.
Speaking in an interview, BRU Secretary General, Mpho Masisi, hailed the performance of the team as a morale booster and motivation for the team as it prepares for other future competitions.
During the Zambia held tournaments, the Vultures 7’s team showed glimpses of great potential as they beat both Zambia and Namibia, also a first feat to achieve by the team.
With these heroic displays in mind, Masisi says they are planning to keep the team together and train it some more this year to keep it going.
“This team achieved what they did during the tournament despite having only trained together for only three weeks. In the tournament, we lost by very close margins to teams like Zimbabwe, which had been together for at least three months and this shows the great potential we have to do better,” the BRU Secretary General said.
Masisi, who went with the team to Zambia, says the team will continue training together in the coming weeks as they await invitations for friendlies from South Africa.
The BRU Secretary General further added that to ensure there is continuity, they will also keep Paxinos at the helm of the team for a longer term.
“We can’t keep on changing coaches time and again. It is not good for the players to keep their rhythm and momentum,” Masisi added. He says the BRU made a mistake in the past but ‘are now working to rectify it’.
On issues relating to the ladies’ sevens side, which also took part in the Castle Sevens tournament in Zambia, Masisi says he is satisfied with their performance despite them not winning silverware at the tournament. According to Masisi, the matches played by the team in Zambia will go a long way in helping them better prepare for the CAR seven’s tournament which is due in Botswana at the end of next month.
The BRU secretary General, however, said there is still much room for the ladies to improve their game ahead of these games. He added that with a little more physical presence to match that of their other competitors, the ladies team can do better.
Meanwhile, Masisi says more friendly matches will be needed for the ladies as well as the men’s 7s and 15 aside teams if they are to compete successfully at international level.
He says the teams have great potential and more competition will be needed if they are to reach their potential.
