Having dominated the Botswana Table Tennis Association (BTTA) club Championship for some time, Botswana Defence Force (BDF) ladies table tennis team has once again won this year’s club championship. Their win comes after stunning the star studded Smash Maniacs ladies, who were the defending champions by thrashing them 3-1 to clinch the 2014 club championship.
The 2014 clubs championship which was held over the weekend saw five BTTA affiliated clubs and the 2014 African Youth Games national team, being the sixth team, battling it out at Botswana College of Agriculture multipurpose hall. The Sir Seretse Khama Barracks ladies team comprising of Tshephiso Rebatenne, Game Kebodiwang and Hetweg Kangootui swiftly made it to the finals where they met their archrivals, Smash Maniacs who were expected to easily defend their title.
BDF then sent its trusted captain Rebatenne, whilst the Bontleng based club, sent the 1st lady of Botswana table tennis, Boitswarelo Butale in the first game. Rebatenne led by example and showed Butale that it was not by accident that she beat her during the 2014 BTTA open in February. Rebatenne beat Butale by 3-1. In the second game, BDF sent its 2013 Botswana Tertiary Schools Sports Association (BOTESSA) silver medalist, Game Kebodiwang to face the ferocious Dr Lovie Chilisa, who proved to be way too good for the Francistown Technical College based student. Chilisa won 3-1 against Kebodiwang.
On the third game, BDF fielded its new player, the 2013 Botswana Integrated Sports Association (BISA) most valuable player, Hetweg Kangootui to face the experienced and former national team player, Phemelo Gaborapelwe. Making her first appearance in the club championship, the young Kangootui from Charleshill to the surprise of many thrashed Gaborapelwe 3-1, while in the fourth and final game, the BDF captain Rebatenne hammered Chilisa 3-0.
Smash Maniacs walked away with silver medals while Nhabe table tennis club won bronze medals.
In other results, Smash Manics men’s team comprising of Bonolo Mabote, Joseph Kgatlampane and Tshepho Modisane went on a rampage. They proved to be on their own league against the BDF men who went away with silver while Nhabe men won bronze medals.