Lobatse volleyball side Victory Seekers (men) and the Prisons ladies team said their reason for withdrawing from the Mascom Volleyball League is that they are not competent enough for the elite league.
Last week the Botswana Volleyball Federation (BVF) called reporters to brief them about the league and it was revealed that these two teams would not be participating this season. When they were interviewed separately by this publication, both two teams said for the past seasons they were not competent enough and were losing more money.
These teams both said the league funds were not enough to meet their expenditure therefore they found it difficult to maintain their teams.
Seekers Manager Boitumelo Janie lambasted the players for lack of commitment, for indiscipline and for not doing enough to help the team in financial woes.
“Players were no longer committed to the team. We came to a point where we could no longer compromise discipline and commitment. We had to pull out of the league,” said Janie.
The other thing is that the players wanted to be bought toiletries and sports shoes while the team could not afford that, said Janie.
“How do they expect the team to take care of them when it is making P20┬á000 a year. We do not have a sponsor and we were struggling, but they could not understand,” said Janie. Janie said they once told the players to raise funds for themselves but the players did not show any interest.
The players were to sell t-shirts, papa and braai during football games played at Lobatse, but they were reluctant, Janie said.
He said their task now is to go around and look for players and beef up their team, adding that there are some youngsters who showed commitment and deserved to remain in the team.
Janie said they are working on building a formidable side that will compete for honours, and would not be limited to just adding numbers. He did not rule out the team coming back next season saying “it will depend on their progress.”
The Lobatse side performed badly last year. Out of 13 teams it emerged in 12th position, losing 22 games and garnering only 28 points.
Another team that has surrendered is the Prisons ladies team. The team performed terribly last season.
Last season Prisons Ladies won only three games out of 18 games, accumulating 24 points ÔÇô a gap of 28 points between them and champions Kutlwano.
“Our squad was not enough to compete and we ran short of quality players. This made us to perform badly,” said Prisons Manager Dingaan Moatswi.
He expressed confident that his team will bounce back next season. Moatswi said they have loaned some of their players to other teams and will hopefully retain them next season. Moatswi also said while they are still inactive they will work on scouting quality players.
“If everything goes up to plan, we will come back to the elite league next season,” he said. The BVF Spokesman Mission Mereyotlhe said the teams who have not registered this season would not affect the league at all as they have informed them well on time.
Mereyotlhe also revealed that a Mochudi ladies team called Mochudi Fliers will be joining the league next year.
He said although the team is already affiliated to the league it will not participate on the league this season. Mereyotlhe said Fliers will be playing on other tournaments like the lucrative Capital Motors Championships.
