After coming 5th at last year’s All Africa games in Congo, Brazzaville the ladies volleyball senior national team will don the national team colours once again in their quest to qualify for the Rio 2016 Olympics.
The 18 lady squad reported for camp on the 5th of January in preparations for the Olympic qualifiers billed for Cameroon, Yaound├® starting on the 10th ÔÇô 20th February this year. The team is expected to train daily at the BNYC Hall in Gaborone during their stay in the camp.
Botswana volleyball federation Sports development officer Peaceful Seleka said, “the ladies have reported for camp as expected, and they intend to carry on from where they left at the last years all Africa games in Brazzaville”.
The team is dominated by players from the Capital motors cup, Mascom Top 4 cup and Zone VI Club Championships reigning champions Mafolofolo, followed by league champions Kutlwano and Kalavango respectively.
Three under 18 players from Dynamites (Jestinah Moyo, Moitlamo Nkobedi and Neo Keitumele) who played a vital role at the 2014 Africa youth games made a grand entry in the squad in their quest to fight for a national team slot.
Seleka added that they decided to add young players to the squad in order to familiarise them with the national team setup. The team also received a boost from Tracy Chaba who spent only three months of her initial eight months contract with the United Arab Emirates side, Al Wadha, after her contract was terminated due to club complications.
Botswana Ladies team will be facing a fierce competition from a total of 17 African nations, which are expected to compete in the qualifiers. The men’s team was excluded from the qualifiers due to financial constrains. According to Seleka, “we would have liked to be represented by both (men and ladies) teams, but we are adamant that the ladies team will do us good. We only managed to get a sponsorship for the ladies team with the help of Botswana National Olympic committee (BNOC)”.
Meanwhile the Africa men’s qualifiers are ongoing in Congo, Brazzaville. The Mascom volleyball League awards will be held on the 28th of January at a venue to be confirmed.
Botswana Ladies Volleyball Team:
Tracy Chaba AL WADHA
Thapelo Kamberuka KUTLWANO
Chada Majaha MAFOLOFOLO
Jestinah Moyo DYNAMITES
Tshiamo Chakalisa KUTLWANO
Game Rakgabo MAFOLOFOLO
Caroline Rodger KUTLWANO
Priscilla Nthaga MAFOLOFOLO
Tebogo Sejewe KUTLWANO
Gaoleseletse Gasekgonwe MAFOLOFOLO
Kelebogile Mahupela MAFOLOFOLO
Moitlamo Nkobedi DYNAMITES
Kebabonye Phofedi KALAVANGO
Neo Keitumele DYNAMITES
Gabaresepe Mashaole KALAVANGO
Tshepo Kumako BDF VI
Goane Lemphitlhetse KALAVANGO
Tsholofelo Retshabile MAFOLOFOLO
