The cloudy weather shielded the battle-ready players from the usually soaring temperatures, meaning they had the opportunity to bring out their best.
Amongst the best players on display was TASC goal attacker (GA), Margaret Banda.
Despite failing to qualify for the final, Banda left her heart in the court. Her combination with goal shooter (GS), Onalenna Mothokothedi destroyed the Notwane defense in the bronze medal match of the LUCARA Netball League.
The Tango Girls clinched the bronze medal after beating Notwane 52-49, all due to Banda's exploits. Banda, who was born 28 years ago in Francistown, says netball has always been her first love. “Growing up in the streets of Francistown, I fell in love with netball from the first go. I have never played any sport besides netball. But I only started playing at Mokaleng Primary School.
I guess there was something that my then coach, Mma Ramotshabe saw in me. After getting that opportunity, I never looked back,” she says. In 2011, Banda joined TASC in Francistown and she was motivated by the team's style of play.
It was not a walk in the park for Banda as she had to fight to be part of the starting seven players. Banda says her coach was able to recognise her resilience and gave her an opportunity. “TASC was in my hood and it was only right for me to join the side.
It was an opportunity for me to play against players that I grew up watching. Now it was my chance to share the stage with them. You know, when you grow up, there are always people that you look up to in your neighbourhood,” she says. Banda's talent did not go unnoticed as she received a national team call up in 2012. She says playing for the national team is not easy as a lot of girls are vying for the same opportunity.
She says when such things happen, it means there is something special that she has that the next player does not possess and it is not by sheer luck. “In the national team you meet different players from different clubs and they bring different styles. You also meet a different coach who brings a different mindset on how to approach a game. As a player, you are expected to take all those things, combine them and win.
It is hard work within a short space of time,” she says. Banda says during the 2022 Africa Netball World Cup qualifiers, she was drilled by a new coach, Jenny van Dyk who also brought in a fresh perspective to "our style of play". “Playing in the qualifiers was the biggest moment of my career. When I stepped into that court, I told myself, 'This is it girl; show what you are made of.' Indeed, I went all out,” she says, satisfaction written all over her face. Banda is a versatile player, adept at playing in almost all positions. Her role model is retired New Zealand national team player, Solonaima Maria Folau. “I play clean netball and I am a strong individual which makes it easy for me to run for the entire 60 minutes.
I always come up with special skills during game time, especially when I pass. That just happens on its own without any training, just like what I was doing over the weekend,” Banda says. She says just like any player, her dream is to be recruited by an international netball club. Banda, who holds a Diploma in Information Security, is currently unemployed. TASC coach, Boitumelo Faith Gabaseme says Banda is a talented player. “I started coaching her during the Botswana Games from 2009 until 2011. The games are for Under-20 players. I then coached her during the Constituency League in 2014. We have been together since then. When she requests a position to play, she delivers, ” she says. Gabaseme says Banda is growing in sport in line with her age. She adds Banda plays all positions in the court but she is short and other positions require a taller person. Despite that, Gabaseme is not afraid to throw Banda anywhere because she knows she will deliver.
FACT FILE
Full name: Margaret Keabetswe Banda Date of birth: October 5, 1994 Place of birth: Francistown Sport: Netball Position: GS Club: TASC Education level: Diploma in Information Security Hobbies: Playing netball Favourite meal: Tswana chicken and bogobe
