I used to watch her from a distance catching for Police IX, fingers inside her mitt, directing her pitcher to the target.
My first encounter with her was recently when the senior women’s softball team was leaving for the World Cup qualifiers in Ireland. During the interview, she was bursting with energy and beaming with confidence. Her name is Magdaline Oratile Mmapitsa, born 29 years ago in Selebi-Phikwe.
Mmapitsa is a police officer based at the Botswana Police College having graduated from the University of Botswana with a qualification in Library and Information Services.
When asked what inspired her to play softball, Mmapitsa said she came across softball during Physical Education lessons at Makhubu Junior Secondary School.
“At the time, I was playing netball and just happened to love softball which I played during practical sessions.
In Form Four at Masunga Senior Secondary School I decided to play softball and found Trevor Musa and Christopher Chikwakwa who taught me the basics. That is where it all started. I was 16 then (in 2010),” she said.
Mmapitsa is one of the most decorated players in the country after playing softball for the last 13 years. She currently plays for Police IX after being recruited from UB Giants. She said her biggest accomplishment was being interviewed by a Japanese television station as a player with the highest statistics in the Botswana team at the World Championships held in Chiba, Japan in 2018. She said being captain of the team that was in Ireland was a huge milestone.
Mmapitsa said locally, Titans is a tough customer and with the national teams, South Africa is a difficult opponent.
“The most important thing to remember when playing softball is that before you do it for yourself on the field of play, do it for the name written on your chest. It is a team sport and to win, you need to have the same goal and share the same sentiments as your teammates,” she said.
Mmapitsa received her first national team call-up in 2011 at 17 years and she has 25 national caps under her belt. She competed at the Under-19 Women’s Softball World Championships in Canada (2013), Women Softball World Championships in Japan (2018), Women Softball Africa World Cup Qualifiers, Botswana (2023), and Women Softball World Cup Qualifiers, Ireland (2023).
Mmapitsa noted that Botswana did better in 2014 in the Netherlands when they won against Great Britain.
“My all-time favourite player is Boitshwarelo Sefo; it is funny how it does not change over the years. I just love her batting even when she is not at her best, she remains my favourite,” she said. Mmapitsa said softball is a unique sport that requires one to be fearless and brave, and the game is dangerous yet fun.
“When you are a softy you cannot play softball. You should be a tough nut to crack because players will be sliding, pushing you, and (there is) a lot of physical activity between players. I have those characteristics. I am able to think outside the box and analyse players’ strengths and weaknesses. I have been able to achieve a lot because of my analytical mind,” she said.
She explained that even outside the field of play, she could watch teams play, note their names, their batting orders, and how the field was.
She said when they face such a team, she can control her pitcher so that they do not get hard hit. That is why Police IX do not earn a run when she is behind the batter’s box as a catcher.
“I can grasp players’ information; all the nine players, even if they can change batters, it is all in my mind. When I make a mistake, I always remember my coach’s words ‘shake it off’. That pushes me to recover fast all the time,” she said.
Mmapitsa is a utility player who is a catcher and can play second base, third base, shot stop and all-round infielder except pitching.
She said as the senior women’s captain in Ireland, leading a young squad, she had to motivate them.
“The girls were understanding, you could not tell the age difference. There were five senior players and the rest were under 25 years. It was easy for me to seat them down and tell them that we should have fun. I told them to enjoy the game. I told them that if we lose, we lose as a team and there was no blame game. We did not score but we played well,” she said.
Police IX coach, Phibion Tawina praised Mmapitsa as a talented player.
“I recruited her from UB Giants where she was playing second base. I converted her to play third base and eventually she went to catch. On all these bases she outdid herself, she plays hard, in terms of command.
As a catcher, you control pitchers, you tell them what you want, calling those pitches you must understand what you want and also the batter you are playing against. She is also able to manage her opponents’ batters,” he said.
Tawina said it is not easy for Police IX to lose games because Mmapitsa is influential in terms of how she manages pitchers.
Fact file
Full name: Magdaline Oratile
Mmapitsa
Date of birth: April 6, 1994
Place of birth: Selebi-Phikwe
Sport: Softball
Club: Police IX, catcher
Profession: Police Officer
Achievements: Best catcher BoFINET softball League, 2016/17. MVP BoFINET softball League, 2016/17. Best slagger, Phikwe Softball Extravaganza Tournament, 2016. Best catcher, Jwaneng Joy Global softball tournament, 2017.
Best catcher, Jwaneng softball tournament, 2018. Best catcher, BoFINET softball league, 2018. Best catcher, Return to play BSA league, 2022. Best catcher, Archein Independence tournament, 2022. Best catcher, Jwaneng Easter tournament, 2023.
Hobbies: Singing specifically Clap and Tap. I sing for Soul Redeemers Gospel Choir and Bana ba Lesedi Gospel Choir both based in Gaborone. I am a member of St Peter’s Apostolic Faith Mission Church.
Loving my husband unconditionally every single day is also one of my hobbies.
Role model: Her mother, Bishop Ntshinogang Mabutho
