26 Apr 2016

The 2015/16 BoFiNet softball league season has come and gone and it is official, Wells men and Police ladies are champions.  BOPA reporter, Portia Ikgopoleng conversed with Botswana Softball Association (BSA) president Tirelo Mukokomani who summarises the season.

 

BOPA: Kindly sum up the 2015/16 season for us as the BSA president.

 

Mukokomani: The league was very competitive because many teams came to the party, they displayed fine softball skills and the interesting part is that the league was unpredictable. 

This past season stakes were high because there were many surprises, teams that are known to finish in the top four were not there and I am impressed as a president because this proves that our sport is growing.

 

BOPA: There were some match protests as the league unpacked of which some games froze for some time to attend to complaints from teams, is this because teams don’t understand the rules of the game or the match officiating is not up to par?

 

Mukokomani: Softball is a game of strategy some teams win games just because they are mentally prepared or advanced than others so sometimes these queries would just be because they need clarification on certain issues which they are not well versed with again softball coaches are allowed to call time. 

But as softball we want players to know rules from a young age so that they understand them which is why we are keen on sport development. 

As BSA, when a team launches a protest they are required to write an official protest which would then be handed to BSA so that it is dealt with accordingly but in most cases teams would just interrupt a game seeking clarification from match officials. 

In the case where a tournament is played in one weekend like the top four which has just ended with crowning of champions, when a team queries a match decision umpires have to freeze the game and attend to that immediately but when it’s during the early stages of the league the protest is dealt with at a later stage.

 

BOPA: For the first time in the history of softball in Gaborone we saw games being played in the evening under the illuminated National Diamond, what positive impact did the lights bring to the league?

 

Mukokomani: The lights were very crucial in our games because for the first time games were scheduled in the evening here in Gaborone and this ensured that many games are played in one weekend. 

The BNSC Vision 2028 strategy’s aim is to have world class facilities that would motivate players and even supporters to participate in sport hence our role as BSA was to look for a sponsor that would help us rejuvenate softball to become the number one sport in Botswana of which BOFINet heeded our call. 

After the erection of the flood lights BSA has witnessed more Batswana attend games which shows that Batswana have plenty of time now to attend matches furthermore players don’t have to play under the hot conditions. 

It should be noted that these lights were made possible by our sponsor BOFINet who signed a P4.5 million deal for a period of three years with BSA.

 

BOPA: What other new developments is BSA putting in place in terms of upgrade of facilities?

 

Mukokomani : The refurbishment of the spectator stands is on the pipeline, we added more stands during the finals so as to accommodate more people but this doesn’t end here we want our grounds to be of world class standards. BSA will host the annual general meeting next week where we will craft a plan for the future of softball because we have been taking notes during the league games hence there will be a lot of issues to discuss.

 

BOPA: Can you please make a comment regarding match officiating in Botswana is BSA impressed and what could be done if there is need for improvement?

 

Mukokomani: I believe that the umpires are doing their best but they have to up their game to match international standards. An umpire has to be in charge of the game, we see situations where players waste time in the field dragging their feet and in other countries they can be penalized for that hence I believe if we are to match international standards stiff measures should be taken and put up clocks on the field so as to time batters if we have to. BSA has partnered with Softball South Africa to train our umpires in match officiating and its bearing results because so far we have sent a few of them and we plan to send more in future.

 

BOPA: We understand that the Under 19 team will be competing in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)-Softball Division World Championship Games in Midland, Michigan in July, how are the preparations going so far?

 

Mukokomani: The Under 19 team went for camp in Mmadinare Senior Secondary School in March in preparation for these games and the team will go on another camp on dates to be announced to further prepare for the games. BNSC has pumped funds to assist in the preparation of the team and we want to ensure that the boys are ready to compete. ENDS