They made a strong comeback dominating the last quarter and winning it with a 18-6 score after making some changes in the scoring cycle. However, BDF Cats fought hard in the first three quarters only to fall short when it mattered the most. The two sides started the game with a fast pace, with young BDF shooters, Patience Kebatenne and Kolobetso Mbangiwa showing little respect to the Police defence, ending the first quarter leading 11-7. The second quarter was not different as BDF continued piling pressure on Police. Despite that, Police continued to dig deep with nice passes as Patricia Olyn (GS) setting Golebaone Leteane (GA) on target to reduce the margin to 12-13. BDF made a change in attacking zone, bringing in the fresh legs of Gorata Rabasaka (GA), replacing Mbangiwa.
The super-charged game was played in front of the Minister of Youth, Sport, Gender and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare. Police finally caught up to settle the score line at 15-15, taking a few minutes lead of 16-15, only for BDF to rise back taking the lead at 21-18 at the end of the second quarter. The third quarter saw Police making some changes throwing in national team defender, Dino Fatima, to try and stop BDF shooters. That was not enough as the BDF attack continued dominance inside the scoring circle due to the sufficient supply from the centre by Florence Poane and Angela Lorato (WD). BDF marched to the end of the quarter leading 34-26. Fatima did not last long in the game as her niggling ankle injury forced her out. More changes were made by the two teams in the last quarter. Police brought in the youthful goal shooter, Tumelo Ratlhogo to replace Olyn. Her arrival brought changes to the side as she clicked with Leteane, the goal attacker. Ratlhogo was able to withstand the pressure of BDF goal keeper, Keletso Gontho, who is also the national team defender.
Police fought back valiantly to win the encounter 44-40. Speaking to SportMonitor, BDF coach, Neo Ntwaagae said they were aware that their opponents were struggling with injuries so the plan was to frustrate them, posses the ball and make them hunt for the ball all the time. “We lost the match in the last quarter because our shooters are youngsters and they got carried away. I took out Mbangiwa for a few minutes because she had started to take steps in defenders. Our defender, Katlego Dipatelelo, is out due to an injury, so moving forward we expect her to be part of the line-up,” Ntwaagae said.
For his part, Police coach, Tshegofatso Manyama said coming into the match was to pick a win. He said the plan worked due to the right substitutions that he made, but his worry was that most of his players were nursing injuries and made it difficult to play the entire match. “The last substitute that I made, introducing Ratlhogo, worked for me and it was made at the right time. My instruction to her was to go and shield because I was aware that the BDF GA is physical, ad that is what she did. She won the match for us,” Manyama said.
The teams
Police: Tshegofatso Banda, (Dineo Fatima), Golebaone Leteane, Natasha Maribe, Kgomotso Matibini, Maipelo Kearoma, Amogelang Ngwako, Patricia Olyn (Tumelo Ratlhogo). Coach: Manyama BDF: Keletso Gontho, Patience Kebatenne, Angela Lorato, Kolobetso Mbangiwa (Gorata Rabasaka), Katlego Mmapadi, Florence Poane (Kefilwe Ragono) and Maungo Simone. Coach: Ntwaagae.
Score: Police 44 BDF Cats 40
