30 Nov 2021

Botswana Softball Association (BSA) is set to finalise a senior men national team that will take part in the Africa World Cup qualifiers to be held in South Africa from January 30 to February 7.

The qualifiers are a prerequisite for the prestigious World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) men’s world cup pencilled for New Zealand in November next year.

The selection process started over the weekend with a 25-man roster training as part of the first phase of preparations for the world cup qualifiers.

In an interview on the sidelines of the training camp, the team’s head coach, Pako Maforaga said they would focus on players’ fitness given that they had not been engaged in any softball activity for two years.

“Most of those we have called to camp from different softball clubs around the country have seen little or no action at all and the intention of the trails is to recondition them physically before making a final call for the second camp next month,” Maforaga said.

He explained that they had called several players from the junior ranks to create a hybrid of players between the junior and senior members of the team.

Some of the young and exciting talent roped in from the junior ranks include 21-year-old Wells International Club player, Matthews Dibeela, 22-year-old Mogomotsi Rabaneng of BMC Softball Club, Bears Softball Club’s 20-year-old Katso Banantwa, Rail Giants’ Moreetsi Morafe and 20-year-old Scramblers player Zibisane Samuel.

Maforaga is assisted by veteran pitcher, Tony Moyo as pitchers’ coach and two assistants in Basiame Molatlhiwa and Otimile Tapiso.

The team manager, Molatedi Manyapedza said the association intended to bring the final squad to 15 players on Sunday (Nov 28) but the inclement weather forced them to reschedule the trials and training to this weekend.

He said they were hopeful of qualifying for the prestigious spot in New Zealand. Ends