The qualifiers are set for February 6-10 in Gaborone. The LOC was launched this week as preparations for the qualifiers gather pace. Accepting his new role, Mukokomani said the appointment means stepping up to a national calling and delivering the best tournament.
For his part, the Botswana Softball Association (BSA) president, Katlholo Mosimanegape said the LOC members were carefully selected to lead preparations for the qualifiers.
“We sent our interest to bid to host the qualifiers late to the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC) between July and August. That was because WBSC-Africa released the call for bidding around that time. We were aware of the protocols that were to be followed as prescribed by the BNSC hosting policy,” he said.
Mosimanegape said it was cheaper to host the qualifiers rather than to prepare a team to travel for the qualifiers in Nigeria or Uganda. He said countries that will be competing at the qualifiers are yet to be confirmed.
Launching the LOC, the BNSC board vice chairperson, Tebogo Lebotse-Sebego, who is also the chairperson of the events and international games hosting committee, confirmed that the BSA proposal landed on the substructure a bit late. “We evaluated it and took it to the BNSC board. As you pointed out, it was out of time but we made certain considerations on certain aspects.
You were able to work with us to come to a point where we could agree as a sub-committee that we could pass your proposal over to the board for subsequent approval. I am excited that you followed all the requirements including submitting names of the LOC for vetting,” she said.
Lebotse-Sebego said most of the National Sport Associations (NSA) do not understand that a requirement of hosting document is that the BNSC has to vet to make sure that they have the right calibre of people to run the event.
She noted that they also considered that South Africa is always hosting and that had to change. Lebotse-Sebego said the event will pave way for two senior women's national teams to qualify for a place at the Europe/Africa stage towards the end of 2023 and that will determine those who will reach the World Cup in 2024.
The LOC: Mukokomani (chairperson), Same Molete (secretary), Puso Kgosietsile (treasurer), Pako Maforaga (PRO), Masego Kwape, Constance Koolatamo, and Abel Mataboge.
