Young rugby squad gets ready for AYG

Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday December 17, 2013 14:52

The players are currently in a training camp at Maruapula School under the tutelage of national Under-17 team coach, Tosca Segaise.

He told Mmegi Sport that the initial number of players invited when the training camp started on December 2 totalled 60 that was trimmed to 28 and will finally be cut down to 15. Segaise said the players were selected from junior secondary schools from across the country in a process that started in July. 

He said in the first two weeks players were taught primary roles of rugby and now they are doing the technical aspects of the game.

Segaise said the players had also been introduced to 7s - a shorter version of the game rugby  - which is the style that will be used during the competition. At their schools the students have been playing 10s and 15s rugby.

'I have quality players in the camp and it is going to be difficult to pick the final squad but that is something that has to be done.

'We are going to find it difficult bringing players together when schools re-open because of their geographical locations.

Some come from as far as Kasane and Gantsi,' Segaise said.  One of the players, Pako Sebekedi, 17, said he started playing rugby in 2008 and was part of the national Under-13 team. He feels the team will be ready to take on other African nations next year.

Another player, Tlang Molefe, 15, a student at Morama Junior Secondary School in Jwaneng, said some of the things he had learnt during the camp include tackling and passing the ball.

Matlho Morapedi, 16, from Orapa Junior Secondary School, said the coach had instilled a lot of discipline in them and that is one ingredient that could win them matches.  The camp comes to an end on Thursday and the Africa Youth Games will be staged here from May 22-31 where 52 other countries are expected to compete.