Softball tourney attracts South African teams
Calistus Kolantsho | Thursday April 18, 2019 12:28
South Africa and Botswana are using the tournament as preparation for the 2019 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Championship to be held in Czech Republic in June. VUT (national team select), Thembisa Classics and MaYoung are the teams from South Africa.
The two are making their debut in the tournament, while VUT has previously participated.
They will join local teams amongst them Police, Titans, Panthers, Bears, Vikings, Carats, Ghetto Yankees and Scramblers (women), and Police, Bears, Panthers, Rebels, Carats, Rail Giants and Scramblers from the men’s section.
Jwaneng sides, Wells International and Gatalamotho qualified as the hosts.
The two are expected to take full advantage of home ground as they chase glory. But it would not be easy as Police (women) and BDF (men) are expected to bring their A game.
Gatalamotho coach, Titus Block said they are ready for their first game on Friday evening against Giants.
“I do not have injuries in my camp and I called all my players who stay outside Jwaneng. They arrived on Monday and we worked on a few issues that need adjusting,” he said.
Gatalamotho will play VUT on Saturday and Block said they have faced the South African side three times before, and they gave them a tough battle. He said it was always a balanced game and the team that blinks loses.
Wells manager, Gabobofane Gabobofane said both men and women are ready. He said 99% of the team reported for training last weekend and only the men’s pitcher is unavailable.
Rail Giants and national team coach, Pako Maforaga said his players are ready for the tournament.
He said the tournament would also sharpen his side in preparation for the BoFiNeT League championship.
Maforaga added that he would use the tournament to assess national team players.
The women’s defending champions, Police coach, Tawina Phibion said a tournament, unlike the league, is a sprint and not a marathon. He said it is going to be difficult to defend their title but they have prepared well for it.
“Some players have minor knocks but they are manageable. I never rely on the same players because that is risky, hence I give all my players time to play,” Phibion said.
Both the men and women’s champions will receive P35, 000 cash, with the runners-up, getting P28, 000. The prize money for the teams that finish third is P25, 000, while those in fourth will receive P20, 000 each.There are cash prizes for all the teams, with the bottom placed consoled with P6,000.