Rugby team leaves for Cameroon CAR Tourney

Initially the team consisted of more than 30 players, but was reduced to 24 after training camp lasted a month. Botswana is expected to play their first match against Senegal on Tuesday when the aircraft is scheduled for June 25.

National team coach Ivor Greaves said it was important for them to win both games. “Each game is a knockout and it determines which position you are going to end,” he said. The tournament will feature four countries, hosts Cameroon, Senegal, Zambia and Botswana. Last year Botswana finished last after losing the first two games.

Greaves, however, said this year their main objective is to develop and grow Botswana rugby. He said the tournament would also serve as a launchpad for future international fixtures. “Most of the team members have never been away from home for very long and this 10-day trip will be good for them,” he said. Greaves said the trip would also help improve the players’ mental abilities, as they would be under pressure to win once there.

“We will use the trip to also explore what Cameroon has to offer because we believe this will help keep the payers mentally and physically active throughout their stay.” He said a good performance at the tournament would see their current world and continental rankings upgraded. He said doing well would also bode well for them in the future and would ultimately show that Botswana rugby was moving in the right direction.

The team nonetheless leaves without Eddie Ernest and Munya Mhonda who are down with injuries and work commitments. Greaves said they would have no choice but work with the players they have and utilise them to their best.

He said the team consists of new exciting front row players like Shatiso Ntibi from the Hogs club and Oarabile Chiche from BDF Cheetahs. Greaves said the team also has Tyron Warburton and Lesedi Keekae, both experienced players who have been in the team for a while.

“Warburton recently suffered from an injury but we expect him to be in good shape for the games,” he said. The team captain is Cheetahs’ Kabo Batsile with Bernie de Beer from Hogs as his assistant.

Greaves said the preparations continued until yesterday (Wednesday), went very well that the team was able to cover much ground in a short period of time. “We worked hard on the structures, because it is important to know the movement of the ball on the ground,” he said.