14 Oct 2024

The eroded foundation of any sporting code in the country is closely attached to lack of determination and desire for glory, and as such the spirit of self-reliance is the cornerstone of the success of the spot.

This was said recently as Botswana Softball Association (BSA) kick started a cause, aimed at resuscitating the game to its glory past, where it was among the leading sporting codes. 

The introspection started with the launch of a league, albeit without a sponsor, envisaged to start October 19, 2024.

In an endeavour to fire up the current crop of players, BSA invited a legend of the game, Labbeaus Peloewetse to share the exciting and mouth-watering past of softball.

He said past players were inspired by preparedness done prior to the game. 

“When we get into the field, we found everything well organised, we became inspired and do what we were expected to do in the field,” he said.

He said as they are about to start the league,  they should bear in mind that all that they desire will not just fall into place miraculously.

Peloewetse appealed to the sport leaders to do their part and inspire the players to deliver.

He said a sport leader must be prepared to do the dirty work. 

“You will be surprised to learn that softball was the core sport association in the country throughout the 1980s. It dominated Sefalana sa Botswana awards,” he added.

Giving a history of the sport in the country, Peloewetse said schools became a place where softball was brewed and the likes of Bob Williams, Charles Cohen, Trinah Paul, Herry Yeater and many more were involved at secondary schools such as Seepapitso, Moeding and Materspei and introduced softball to the students.

He said in 1968, a decision was taken to start a league, giving birth to BISA competitions, the first in 1971 at Gaborone Secondary School (GSS) grounds.

Gradually, he said a number of students graduated from high school and now in the streets, some employed by government and banks formed soft ball teams, adding that the first club formed was Gaborone Softball Club, which changed name in 1972 to Vikings Softball Club.

Out of Vikings, Dinare Softball Club was established in 1975.

 Peloewetse said that the wise ones in softball decided to establish club softball. 

He said at that time there was a softball team in Mahalapye called Mafetsakgang as well as Vikings, Dinare and University of Botswana in Gaborone as well as Dipela in Lobatse.

The teams, he noted, got together under the morula tree at GSS and started drafting the BSA constitution. 

He said the Registrar of Societies then required that to register an association, it must have at least three registered clubs. 

However, he said in 1975, there were only two registered clubs; Vikings and Mafetsakgang, but other teams were lobbied to register.

He said even though Carats in Orapa was registered, it was registered under the Orapa Recreational Club, therefore was not a standalone team. 

They kept on pushing for membership until Carats registered as an independent team.

“And now the BSA was formed on September 1977, with A P Mokoto as its president, Sam Bogopa as vice and Bob Williams as the competitions organiser” he added. 

He said in January 1978, the first tournament was organised; a competition featuring eight men teams. 

Later in that same year in October, Peloewetse said a softball league was established, and teams were divided into two zones; the North and South.

He said in the late 1978, the Eagles, an all American softball team was formed, upping the game and completely changing the landscape of softball.

He said Mokoto and Williams were whole-heartedly devoted to developing softball, using their own resources. 

Peloewetse said commitment was important as it was the main ingredient in an endeavour to succeed. 

He said as it was the case with the BSA launched league, the first national championship was without a sponsorship and the trophies were donated by Holy Radio.

In 1979, Peloewetse said Holy Radio still sponsored the tournament and Wilcore donated trophies for the women’s teams. Ends