Army clubs� merger threatens softball stability
Thato Kala | Friday April 4, 2014 14:52
Over the years, BDF IX and Scramblers have interchangeably won the national title. “We will have one formidable team and this is going to work well for us. But, for other teams, they will not give us enough competition,” Moremodi told Mmegi Sport.
Scramblers are top of the northern softball league while BDF IX ended their southern region Shell Softball League campaign in style, massacring Vikings 17-3 in a highly charged duel last Saturday at the UB Diamond.
Like in previous seasons, the two clubs are expected to meet in the Shell Softball National Championships’ final.
Under the new arrangement, the coaches will select the best players to make up one team.
Blue Angels and BDF IX are based in Gaborone while Scramblers are in Francistown. Players picked from Scramblers transfer to Gaborone.
The southern softball men’s league has of 13 teams while the northern tier has eight.
Botswana Softball Association (BSA) president, Tirelo Mukokomani, who said he has heard reports of the merger, referred queries to the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC).
“Until we hear anything official from Sports Council we cannot say anything. It is a BDF issue and Sports Council are the best people to address it,” he said. Scramblers and BDF IX have women teams, mainly composed of civilian players.
It is, however, not clear whether the teams also be merged. Meanwhile, the eliminations for the Joy Global Jwaneng Easter tournament start tomorrow in Gaborone and Mahalapye. The women will slug it at the two venues together with northern men.
In the southern region, the men eliminations are scheduled for April 12. The main tournament will be held over the Easter holidays in Jwaneng.
Eight Botswana men teams and two South African sides will take part in the tournament. In the women category, seven local teams will be action alongside a South African team.