The BVF president, Tsoseletso Magang told MmegiSport that she had promised to bring back volleyball and she has delivered, with the league currently ongoing across the country. “Volleyball needs a league; there is no running away from that. A tournament is finished quickly but a league takes around six months. We currently have 13 women's teams. In one round a team is assured of 12 games unless they miss some games, second round they are also assured of another round of 12 matches. In a tournament, you can be knocked out after four games, which will be the end of you. But in a league you get more opportunities for a coach to refine the squad,” she said.
She explained that they have reduced the number of venues where the games will be played as a way of reducing costs for BVF and teams. Magang said coaches grow when there is a league and have an opportunity to elevate their skills. Magang said the ministry has stated that the assistance is a once-off and there is a need to maximise finding league sponsorship. She added that they are currently searching for a prize sponsor. The vice president-administration, Ndibo Lebala, said the league is off to a good start and there has been some excitement from clubs and supporters. “It has only been slow for Dikwena club from Molepolole.
They are new in the league, so they have been coming late to the games. We warned them against that practice. They have since improved on time keeping,” he said. Lebala said when the league started, clubs were assisted with mobilisation fee, P19,000 to the women’s clubs while the men’s sides received P22,000 for the first round. He explained that there is also a transport fee that is allocated to clubs when they are travelling to matches out of Gaborone. “Clubs that will be travelling to Francistown this weekend have been assisted with those funds. Unfortunately, we do not cover accommodation and food but we expect them to use the mobilisation fee that they received at the beginning of the season,” he said.
Lebala said the main aim of the league is to market volleyball to potential sponsors. “Last weekend we played some matches in Serowe, we had the support of the village leadership. That is what we need, the support,” he said. He also said the first round will end on October 13 to give way to Beach Volleyball for three weeks. The second round will then resume until March 2025. Meanwhile, BDF VI and Dynamites are taking a journey to Francistown where Sebokeng and Block Buster will be waiting at Donga camp. BDF coach, Selebatso Mabutho, said his team is ready for a battle. “Preparations have been going well; we are ready to fight. Last season, we played two tournaments, winning one and another one we finished third,” he said.
Mabuto said they have not recruited any players from outside. They only elevated players from the development team and lost two players to Police VI and one player to Spiking Stars. For her part, Monica Alfred of Kalavango said they are only playing for the love of volleyball because the money is too little. “We received P19, 000, we spend around P600 per week when our players train, and we spend around P2, 000 to transport some of our players who live outside Gaborone, from places like Orapa. The costs of running a team are just too much,” she said.
FIXTURES:
SSKB (Men) Kutlwano vs Motlakase (9am) Magstimela vs Prisons (11am) Yaros vs Motlakase (1pm) Mafolofolo vs Police (3pm)
Women: Sunday: Magstimela vs Yaros (10am) Kutlwano vs Dikwena (12pm)
Men: Dikwena vs Motlakase (10am) Yaros vs Magstimela (12pm)
