BONA continues rebuilding phase
To ensure there will not be a repeat of the same feeling in the near future, the local netball mother-body and all relevant stakeholders are currently collaborating to rebuild the team that will once again make the nation proud at continental and global competitions.
This past weekend saw the association host finals of the Fast Five netball tournament which has been sponsored at a tune of P234 850 by the SKL Group of Camps for a period of five years.
“For this year, the tournament was not played by clubs, it was played by national team players. We divided the competition into two categories, male and female. We are preparing two national teams for two international competitions. Men are readying for Africa cup whilst ladies are preparing themselves for the Netball World Cup qualifiers to be held in South Africa in August, from the 20th to 27th,” BONA Public Relations, Mokeresete Mokereste shared.
According to the BONA mouthpiece, the two teams consist of 20 players who have since been divided into groups of five players.
From each group, the players were given a go ahead to lobby former players and or other available players of their choice to join their teams, a move that gave coaches an opportunity to also cast the net wide to identify new talents.
“We were using these games to raise funds for the national team, identify new talents and also to give the players more game time as major competitions are on the horizon (Africa Cup and Netball World Cup Qualifiers). The weekend event was a success, we managed to achieve most of our mandates and we are happy with the preparations ahead of very important competitions,” He said.
Mokeresete added that they were impressed by the fitness levels of the players, highlighting that the players look far much better than when the team traveled to Namibia.
“We had a mini-league tournament and now a Fast 5 tournament, the players are in good shape and this is very encouraging. The ladies have been very impressive, we are delighted with what we’ve seen, and the sharpness of the players is really good,” Mokeresete shared.
Mokeresete further revealed that next year, Maun will host the tournament which will be played by clubs and will be divided into three categories, including the Under 21 section.
Sponsors of the tournament, SKL Group of Camps, a tourism company based in Maun will be happy to learn that BONA officials have made a resolution to turn Maun into a hub of Fast 5 netball tournament as it will take place in the region for the period of the sponsorship.
Winners of the weekend spectacular, , Dynamites (Ladies) and Legends Killers (men) walked away with P1000 each.
BONA are also set to resume their national league dubbed, Lucara Netball League in three (3) weeks’ time which will further enhance the readiness of the team ahead of scheduled competitions.