29 Nov 2023

Team Botswana has proved to be a force to reckon with an the ongoing Netball Africa Cup by beating the highly ranked Kenyan on Tuesday in Gaborone.

The local girls, who beat  their Kenyan counterparts  36-28,scored 17 goals during the first 25 minutes of the game to show their determination to overcome Kenya. 

Botswana head coach, Phinda Ntwaagae said she was impressed with her team's performance, noting  that it was their first win against Kenya.

She said her team was youthful, balanced and robust with most players in their 20s.

She said she gave all her players the opportunity to play in the first game in order for them to acclimatise to the pressure and to use the experience going forward as evidenced by her substitutions. 

The coach said her team played according to the game plan and that they won the contest through their midcourt play. 

Coach Ntwaagae said she was confident of victory against ESwatini on Wednesday, adding that even during her playing career she never lost to them. She said she had observed the team during their encounter against Zambia. 

Coach Ntwaagae was confident that if the team could remain together for the next five years they would qualify for the Australia 2027 World Cup.

For his part, Kenya head coach, Mugisha Ali said their aim was to maintain their ranking, and that most teams participating in the tournament were ranked higher than them.

He said they were undergoing a transition period as  most of their senior players had retired. He said their possession and defence were good while their shooting was below par.

He said their game plan was to keep possession, shoot accurately and to defend as a unit. Ali, however, said their game plan did not work as anticipated as they were outscored 11 against 8 at the end of the first quarter.

Botswana  will face ESwatini in their next game while Kenya plays Zimbabwe. ENDS