Invest in women's rugby team � ex-coach urges
Calistus Kolantsho | Thursday October 24, 2013 14:36
Former national team coach Shaun Lees told Mmegi Sport that the union should put more resources in grooming the team.
He said that the players should have enough time to prepare for tournaments and should be paid allowances to motivate them.
The women’s team lost 31-10 to Namibia at Hage Geingob Stadium last Saturday.
Lees said the 15s is a new ball game and that the women are used to playing 7s aside. He said the players must visit the gym regularly because the 15s game is more physical.
“The women are used to playing the 7s which allows them a lot of space to attack and do other things but when they play the 15s the field is crowded and the game more physical,” he said.
Lees observed that fields in Botswana were small when compared to other countries. He said that the size of the ground could affect the game plan and cause confusion among the players.
One rugby commentator who wanted to remain anonymous seemed to put the blame for the loss on coach Munya Mhonda.
He said the national team had played at the big Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria before against physical players.
It seemed to him that Mhonda lacked tactics and vision and that he was bound to lose because he had no ball carriers and playmakers.
Mhonda said for the 7s and 15s the length of the field does not change.
He explained that there was no set rule on how wide a pitch should be but the length should be the same. Meanwhile, Mhonda said the BRU was in the process of developing a women’s league with a view to giving more a chance to play the 15s.