There were interesting moves which shook softball, including Pauline Tukisi's move from Wells International to Vikings. Tukisi has previously featured for Rail Giants before joining Wells.
She is considered one of the best outfielders in the country. Tukisi's new side, Vikings were suspended from the league in 2019 after taking the Botswana Softball Association (BSA) to court but has since returned after serving their suspension. The team has already played two championships, in the process winning bronze medals.
The first one was BSA return-to-action mini-league followed by another one at the Phikwe Extravaganza. Keabetswe Mhotsha and Thamiso Matlapeng pulled a surprise when they left Bears for BDF IX. Mhotsha and Matlapeng have been loyal players for Bears and their move was unexpected.
Dinare lost Bafedile Dube who has moved to Vikings. Senior women national team catcher, Goitseone Munyadzwe has jumped ship to join Titans from Panthers. She has been with Panthers for a long time and for her to wear Titans colours was a surprise within the softball fraternity.
On the men’s side, Baolopi Thamuku who has been playing for Wells for a long time has joined Police IX. He scored a home run for his new outfit over the weekend during the Archain Hardware Independence Cup eliminations. Thamuku is one of the best outfielders and a top hitter.
He has joined a side, which has many players and a strong squad. Wells have lost Omphile Moagaesi to their cross-town rivals, Gatalamotho, while Munashe Chibinyane has left Panthers and retraced his steps to Vikings. He used to play for Vikings before the team was suspended. Chibinyane is one of the best left-handed hitters and his departure has left a vacuum at Panthers. Gillian Quelio, a youngster with good glove work, has joined BDF IX from Panthers. BDF IX have always had a tradition of recruiting soldiers and for a civilian like Quelio to join the side, is a new twist.
By recruiting civilians, BDF IX may have realised that it is time to build a new team. BDF IX have also recruited Oreeditse Bareng from Rivals 9 to beef up a side with experienced players such as Jury Manaka and Obusitswe Lekgothu. Another young player, Ruben Mogocha has joined Tati Bulls from Diphofu while Scramblers veteran player, Ian Wright has found a new home at Rail Giants. When BDF stopped sponsoring Scramblers, Wright was one of the players who kept the team afloat.
Thato Tlhomelang has been Bears' kingpin pitcher but he has now moved to Rail Giants, a shock move as Bears depended on him. Meanwhile, Wells assistant coach Batsetswe Gontlafetse told Mmegi Sport that the departure of Tukisi is a big loss. “She is in a class of her own and gives her all in every aspect of the game. We wish she had stayed with us for at least one more season as she was a big part of our rebuilding exercise,” he said. Regarding Thamuku, Gontlafetse said his departure was not necessarily a surprise move.
He said the player has been attempting to move on since 2016. Gontlafetse said they have lost the men’s coach and six senior men’s team players. Vikings coach, Gagoope Ntsholetsang said the team's suspension in 2019 had an effect on players, especially the youngsters. “Our players were frustrated and others looked at them like they did something wrong, which is why some of them left to join other clubs.
We are happy to see some of them returning to Vikings,” he said. Ntsholetsang said COVID-19 was a blessing for Vikings as it afforded them time to serve their suspension, rebuild, and re-motivate the team.
