BDF VI, KUTLWANO RETAIN TITLES

Staff Writer | Monday December 2, 2013 15:47

The two have each won P100,000 for their achievements. BDF VI was crowned champions after beating fellow army side, Diphatsa 3-2 in a boring match on Saturday while Kutlwano beat BDF VI 3-0 in their last game and bagged the same number of points as rivals, Mafolofolo. Kutlwano became champions again because they have dropped only seven sets against Mafolofolo's nine.

The game between BDF VI and Diphatsa did not produce the usual fireworks that characterise meetings between the two sides. It was a tame and cautious affair where no side expressed itself. Francistown-based Diphatsa was the weaker of the two sides with players failing to jell. Their pillar of strength, Odirile 'Driller' Sibanda had a bad afternoon and cost his team dearly. BDF took a 2-0 lead but faltered when spectators were expecting it to wrap up the duel. In between the huffing and puffing, Diphatsa regrouped and took a convincing lead in the third set, taking advantage of BDF's complacency. The men in maroon and white gained confidence and won the third set forcing the game into a deciding set. After leading in the decider, Diphatsa slipped as pressure mounted to allow BDF to win 15-8. Despite winning the league, BDF coach Selebatso Mabutho was not impressed at the way his boys played. 'Today we just played like school boys,' he told The Monitor Sport after the game. He said that his players failed to express themselves because of the anxiety over defending the title. He believed that Diphatsa won the two sets not because they were good but because his players committed unforced errors. He said it has not been an easy journey to defend the title but he is glad they succeeded. 'Our intention at the beginning of the season was to defend all the trophies we won last season,' he said.

Kutlwano coach Isaac Samuel was impressed by his team's general performance in the league. 'We had challenges but finally we made it,' he told The Monitor Sport. He said they were unfortunate to lose one game against Mafolofolo because players were still trying to adjust after the departure of one of their stars, Tracy Chaba to become a professional in Algeria. Samuel was happy that the league went generally well.