17 Oct 2022

Prisons women netball club came from behind to defeat Jwaneng 48-32 in a Southern Zone Lucara National Lague encounter played at BONA Courts on Saturday.

Prisons victory surprised many as Jwaneng seemed a better side from the onset, winning all the balls in the midcourt to snatch the first quarter with 12-7.

The mining side continued to dominate and finished the second quarter leading 22-19. However, the complexion of the game changed in the third quarter after Prisons lowered the tempo of the game, probably sensing that they could not match their youthful opponents with speed.

The third quarter finished in favour of Jwaneng by a narrow margin of 32-31.

The last quarter saw Prisons coming with guns blazing, playing with a sense of urgency to snatch it by 48-34.

Prisons coach, Regent Pitso, said in an interview that they started slow because they wanted to give some players opportunity to play. ‘I think it is now our tradition to cover in the third and fourth quarters.

Jwaneng are fast as they use youthful players,” he said.

Pitso said he was happy with his players’ fighting spirit, given that although they were trailing, they took the game to their opponents.

For his part, Jwaneng coach Cecilia Koontse, said her youthful team was challenged to train together due to some players’ school commitments.

“During the week, I only train with four players, so it is always difficult for us to end the game on a high note, because our combination is always a problem,” she said.

The coach said she was still confident that her team could still do well in the coming games. Prisons are now on position five with three points from six outings while while Jwaneng occupy the last spot in the log standing with two points after six games.

Meanwhile, UB Crystals did not turn up for their game with Police.

Botswana Netball Association (BONA) spokesperson, Mokeresete Mokeresete, said unlike their northern counterparts who played both rounds, the south zone did not have the second round.

The BONA mouthpiece said should southern zone play second round, it was likely to encounter financial constraints for Top 8 and national finals.

He said teams had also advanced that due to financial challenges stemming from COVID-19, they would not be able to play second round.

The PRO said the zonal committees would meet with the BONA vice president projects and events to resolve all issues surrounding and verify teams that had qualified for Top 8 and national finals.

Both men and women’s teams compete in Lucara league and as some of the women teams do not have male teams as such there are only seven male teams, two in the north and five in the Southern side.

As the male teams did not make the required number for Top 8, Mokeresete said they had eliminated three to remain with top four teams that will compete at Nationals.  

Top 8 finals are scheduled for Letlhakane on October 29-30 while National Finals are billed for BONA courts in Gaborone on November 12-13. ENDS