The 17-men squad is without prominent names such as Kefilwe Kenosi, Unaswi Gudu, and Karabo Motsholathebe. The technical team has bolstered the defence by roping in four pitchers, with the pitching department including Kagiso Mogale, a two-time World Cup pitcher who led Botswana to an eighth-place finish in 2017, making the playoffs for the first and only time thus far.
Head of delegation, Kelly Monyake, said the technical team has delivered on what they were tasked with, which is to select a youthful team. “The squad makes sense, and I believe most are new. If anything, most have gone to the last stages of almost making the senior team,” Monyake said. Head coach, Tony Moyo, said the selected team is strong enough to compete against South Africa.
The qualifier takes place in Mokopane, Limpopo. When asked about players dropped from the squad, Moyo said that some underperformed while others were injured. “Those injured needed two weeks to recuperate, but we did not have that time frame. But the intention is to bring them back into the team when we get back from the Africa qualifiers,” he said.
Botswana, currently ranked number 33 in the WBSC Men’s softball world ranking, will play against South Africa for one of the two available slots for the African continent in the World Cup. Botswana's last appearance in the men's softball World Cup was in Prague in 2019, where the team finished in position 14.
The upcoming WBSC men’s softball World Cup will be the first in history to be played under a new two-stage format where the group stage and finals will be held in consecutive years. Prince Albert, Canada, will host one of the groups in July, while the Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City, USA, will receive the second group in September. The World Championship finals take place in Prince Albert, Canada, in July 2025.
The team Eric Simwanza (OF, 1B, 3B. captain), Brian Dekoker (SS, 2B, OF. assistant captain), Mogale (pitcher), Pamidzani Mazulugwa (pitcher) Samuel Kunyalala (pitcher), Oreeditse Bareng (pitcher), Rannaneng Mothudi (catcher), Kaone Sekate (catcher), Matthews Dibeela (second base), Ofentse Ketshogile (SS, 2B, 3B), Moses Kgosimore (1B, 2B), Zibisane Samuel (SS, 2B), Tshepo Ditiro (outfield), Albert Kganetsano (outfield), Munashe Chibinyani (outfield), James Mutoroke (outfield), Boikanyo Motlaleng (pitcher-alternate player)
Team officials Donald Fologang (manager), Tony Moyo (head coach), Otimile Tapiso (assistant coach), Jurry Manaka (assistant coach), Tebogo Makacana (assistant coach), Ayumi Yokosawa (assistant coach), Charity Isaac (scorer), Bame Kgake (umpire).
