27 Oct 2024

After a thrilling first round, five netball teams in Group B faced off once again in the second round of the U-21 Youth Development League over the weekend in Selebi Phikwe.

The five teams were Palapye-based Morupule and Uprising Stars, Francistown-based Task and Tafic as well as Nico netball team from Selebi Phikwe.

Organised by Botswana Netball Association (BONA), the games kicked-off with an opening game between Morupule and Task which ended with an effortless win for Morupule, beating Task 25-10.

Log leaders, Uprising Stars beat Tafic 34-33 in a fiercely contested game. Uprising Stars also came back strong in the last game to beat Nico 58-18 to maintain their first position.

Home ground advantage did not work for Nico who suffered another defeat from Morupule

The public relations officer, Ketty Gareitsanye commended the teams for showcasing their prowess throughout the games. She said the teams demonstrated exemplary teamwork and resilience to navigate through five matches.

“It was a great learning experience for all the players and I urge them to continue with their training to correct their mistakes and enhance their skills,” she said.

Gareitsanye said the plan was to have at least two teams in bracket B making it to the semi-finals and the finals. “We cannot afford to lose this opportunity to other teams. We are going to fight by all means to secure a place in the top eight.”

Meanwhile, sports development officer for BONA, Florah Kedibonye explained that the league was an initiative to scout talent and select players for the Under 21 national team.

She said they needed a pool of 20 or more players  who would be trained further for the national team.

With over P572 000 sponsorship from BONA, she said the league would run up to December and that four teams from the north or south would battle it out in the finals.

Kedibonye explained that BONA decided to use a grant from Botswana National Sports Commission to run the league and to focus on developing young players for the national team. She noted that they used to rely on schools to feed national teams, but that since sporting activities were suspended, they were limited in selecting players for national teams.

She said BONA has divided north and south zones into four brackets of two in each zone and that the two best teams in the brackets would battle it out prior to the semi-finals. ENDS