23 Jul 2025

The Wells Internationale Softball men’s team and Police IX Softball Women’s team emerged victorious at the end of a three-day Selebi Phikwe Softball Extravaganza which started on July 19.

The victory did not only secure each team the coveted title of the 2025 Selebi Phikwe Softball Extravaganza champions but also earned each team a monetary prize of P40 000. BDF IX, both men and women teams, got position two with a cash prize of P30 000 while Carats team on men tournament and Titans on women’s side garnered position three. Each team received P20 000 cash prize.

Wells Internationale men’s team defeated BDF IX in the finals with an impressive score of 10-0 and Police IX women’s team crushed the defending champions, BDF IX women’s team with a staggering 8-1 goals. From the outset and series of games played, Wells demonstrated significant competency, with remarkable pitching strategic plays enabling them to take control of all fixtures it played.

In their opening match, Wells made a good start thrashing their opponents, Rail Giants with a commanding 9-0 victory, a triumph that set the tone for the rest of the tournament signaling their relentless pursuit of the championship title.

Moving forward, Wells also faced the Selibe Phikwe 2024 Extravaganza Champions, Police IX. A match many anticipates would be a nail biter, instead the Wells delivered a performance dominating and crushing Police IX with a 1-0 win.

At the semi-finals against Carats, with their unbeaten run and remarkable performance throughout the game, Wells got a victory of 5-1, a win that booked them a ticket to the finals. Police women’s team also came with guns blazing showcasing skills and determination to move from position three in last year’s softball extravaganza’s rankings to the first position.

In an interview, Wells Internationale Men’s Softball team coach, Gagoope Ntsholetsang appreciated the win, saying it was a milestone growth and exposure for the team. He said their journey to the title was marked by hard work, resilience and a commitment to team work, emphasising that the victory was just the beginning.

“Winning the championship is a significant achievement for the team, this also calls for the need to intensify all our efforts and tighten ropes within the softball landscape. We embrace each game played as a lesson to innovate our strategies and continue to set new goals in pursuit of excellence,” he said. 

In 2024 Selibe Phikwe Softball Extravaganza, Wells international emerged position two with a cash prize of P20 000. BDF IX Men’s Softball team coach Tebogo Makhachana acknowledged the loss against Wells Internationale Softball men’s team, he said although they faced a defeat and got position two, there was a significant strides of progress within the team.

“While the finals didn’t go as planned, as a team content of how far we have come, last year we were fighting just a stay in the mix and got position five but today we have climbed to the second place. This is not just growth but a resilience and commitment of our players,” he said.

Makhachana said the second position they garnered propelled the team to reinforce a message of hope and perseverance in the softball landscape. Police IX women team coach, Tawina Phibion said the Selebi Phikwe extravaganza was one of the notable events in the softball calendar, therefore a win was the biggest catch to reclaim back the status of the team in the event. He said the last win was in 2018 and since then the team had struggled to win again.

“We came with determination to reclaim back our status and through hard work, team work and introspection over the years we managed, this is a call to keep innovative ideas flowing and continuously pushing for the best,” he said. ENDS