Ntelecha, Police VI's pacesetter
Calistus Kolantsho | Sunday September 29, 2024 11:14
Her love for volleyball developed at a young age whilst she was a Standard Four pupil at Our Lady of the Desert Primary School in Francistown. Ntelecha is now part of a dominant Police VI at the ongoing Botswana Volleyball League. “I used to watch other pupils play the sport, and I decided to give it a try, only for me to fit like a glove in hand. I have played other sports such as netball. I was also in the school athletics team and at junior school, I was a javelin thrower. That is how it all started for me and the rest is history,” she said. Ntelecha said back in the day when she was playing for BDF VI during a trip to Zimbabwe, she learnt that Police VI was interested in forming a women’s team. She did not think twice as she jumped at the opportunity in April 2018. That was after completing her mission with BDF at the Africa Club Championships hosted in Egypt.
She said volleyball requires a suitable physique but to her that is not enough. What keeps her going is the love for the sport, the team work, enthusiasm, and the rush she gets during matches. The 32-year-old said her first competition was during her primary school days when she competed in the Barloworld Cup in Masunga. “I was very young and I have forgotten how the match ended. But at a competitive stage, I played my first league games in 2011. By then, I was playing for Diphatsa, we lost many matches. I am a setter; I have always been good in this game and I always worked more on my skills so that I keep improving,” she said. Ntelecha, a police officer stationed at the Tlokweng Police Station, was recruited to serve in April 2019. Despite her swift step on the court, Ntelecha has never been selected for the national team. “I have never been called up to the national team and I do not know why. But I have always been in the Botswana Tertiary Student Sports Association (BOTESSA) teams. Well, I could say the highlight of my career is when I played in South Africa under the Vaal University of Technology. That is where I reached my full potential and gained much experience and I was awarded the best setter award every year between 2014 and 2016,” she said. Ntelecha said although Police VI wins most of the time, there is no pressure playing for the side because they play as a team and they motivate each other to do better.
She said they always work on their mistakes in order to achieve their goal, which is to win at the end of the day. Ntelecha explained that as the captain, she always tells her teammates to focus on the match, maintain serves and the point margin as well as motivate each other to play better and not dwell much on lost points. “Unlike other team sport, volleyball is not a contact sport. We engage in a fierce match while being separated by the net. I have had quite an interesting run with Police, winning four cups since 2022,” she said. Police VI is always a joy to watch when in action and as a result, Ntelecha said teams always pull all stops when they come up against her side. She said the difficult sides for the past two years have been Kutlwano and Mafolofolo. Most of the time, volleyball, which is in an indoor sport, is played outdoor, players have to deal with wind and the sun making every move more difficult. Ntelecha said they learn to handle the challenges through experience and by training. “As a word of advice to youngsters interested in volleyball, I urge them to follow their passion, desire in them, and devote their time in their studies and volleyball at the same time. It can be difficult to multitask but it is possible if the will is there. It worked for me, hence I managed to study in South Africa because of volleyball,” she said.
Ntelecha said growing up, she liked watching Lekedzani Bayi and Kele Segatlhe, and the two became her role models. Bayi is a former volleyball player who played as a setter. “I have played volleyball for 23 years, but I am still learning each day. I do not let my height or weight disadvantage me. I make sure that I work hard every day at training. My teammates always bring out the best in me in each and every game. My family is also my support system,” Ntelecha said.
FACT FILE: Full names: Lebani ‘Trandy’ Ntelecha Date of birth: April 4, 1992 Place of birth: Francistown Occupation: Police Officer Sport: Volleyball Club: Police VI Position: Setter and Captain Height: 1.65m Shoe size: 6.5 Hobbies: Hanging out with friends, team mates and watching softball, netball and other sport Favourite meal: Rice, chicken, and vegetables.