Barefooted rugby girls defy odds
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday February 24, 2024 06:00
During the semi and final match, Popagano JSS in Sepopa village in the Okavango region donned yellow jerseys with black stripes, along with black shorts and a trim of white. The kit was a donation from the Botswana Rugby Union (BRU). For their other kit, they had to borrow from Shakawe Senior Secondary School.
The players, all Under-17, did something special to beat one of the tournament favourites, Gaborone Hogs. They were not intimidated by the 'opulence' of their opponents from the capital with their superior wear, boots, and physique. They only relied on their speed to score. However, things did not work out in the final against UB Rhinos, who brought power and speed into the match.
Rhinos outplayed the visitors, but the young girls from Sepopa showed resilience and were ultimately the crowd's favourites. The coach of the side, Malebogo Matlhare, said the team arrived a day before the tournament, after enduring more than 1 ,000km on the road, travelling by an overnight bus from Sepopa.
“The most important thing that I told my players ahead of the tournament was that they are in Gaborone to showcase their talent. They stepped into the field of play and displayed what they can do and everybody was happy. During the preparation stage, we played against Shakawe Rugby Club's senior women's team who is older than my players,” he said. Matlhare explained that it was not an easy trip after unfulfilled promises from Popagano JSS management on the provision of food and transport. He said at the last minute before the trip, he was reminded that school sport is still suspended in government schools. “They told me that they had wanted to assist us through the school food vote but there was nothing. The only money they had was enough to buy food along the way from Sepopa to Gaborone but upon arrival, I would fend for the team.
I informed the tournament organiser, about our predicament and she informed us that she would buy us food,” he said. Matlhare explained that on the day of the tournament, all other teams had lunch but his players had nothing. He said if they had something to eat, maybe they could have performed better. He said they only ate in the evening after the tournament and headed back to Sepopa on the same day. Matlhare said the team was established at the school as well as the Shakawe Rugby Club. He said the two teams are meant to give women in the two villages and surroundings an opportunity to believe in themselves. “Some of the players in the Shakawe team are school drop-outs or they failed at school and they are unemployed. Some of them find themselves stuck in abusive relationships. I also assist them by finding jobs for them,” he said.
Matlhare, a teacher at Popagano JSS, was a rugby player at Naledi Senior Secondary School in Gaborone before joining the North West University in South Africa. Upon completing his studies, he got a job as a teacher. “In 2010, I started a team at Shakawe Senior Secondary School, and it was dominating in school competitions. Our only competitor was Selebi-Phikwe Senior Secondary School.
In 2019, we finally managed to beat Selebi-Phikwe. We won the last gold medal before school sport was suspended,” he said. The tournament organiser, Gorata Kgathi, who is also Savage Rugby Club founder, said the weekend event went according to plan, which was to elevate women's rugby. She said the level of competition was high, and players applied themselves well.
“The highlight of the event was the presence of Botswana National Sport Commission board vice chairperson, Tebogo Lebotse-Sebego. We wanted to show people that women can cement themselves in sport leadership bodies. We were also graced by the Women and Sport Botswana vice chairperson, Dr Nozie Payet,” she said. Popagano JSS walked away with P2, 000 cash prize money, and players and the coach scooped individual awards. Matlhare won the Fashionista Field Marshal award, while the school was adjudged the Most Vibey Team. Popagano's Laone Lubinda got the Tackle Titan award while Atsile Ngande was recognised for the most Dazzling Dummy.