10 Oct 2024

Botswana Softball League will resume on October 19 after a long dry spell due to financial constraints .

The resumption of the league has been made possible by a grant from the Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC). Botswana Softabll Association (BSA) has received P937 000 grant for the current financial year. 

Sharing the league structure during the launch on Wednesday, BSA vice president for competitions, Justus Kuswane said softball has a long history, adding that it has seen both the good and the bad. Kuswane said in recent past years, softball has been struggling to get back on its feet due to financial constraints.

He said in the past two to three years, the game was at its worst drought. However, efforts to keep the game on track were always put in place, as it was witnessed by the back-to-grounds tournament post COVID-19. 

 “I am here to confirm to the BNSC that on October 19, 2024, we will be on the softball pitch to start the league,” he said. 

Kuswane said due to financial constraints, the league would not have prize money. Rather, he said since the league would be run by a grant from the BNSC, the funds would go towards empowering them to start playing. 

Kuswane said the bulk of the funding that would be disbursed to the teams would be focused on the welfare of players, buying equipment, transport and allowances of the league officials. To date, Kuswane said 22 men teams and 20 women teams have registered to participate in the league. 

However, Kuswane said some teams, three in the north region and another three in the south were yet to confirm their participation. He said both the men and women teams would each receive P10 000 and six balls to prepare for the league. 

BNSC Board chairperson, Marumo Morule said reviving and reinvigorating softball was an exciting journey. Morule said due to the COVID-19 challenges, softball like any other sport was affected. 

As a result, he said the BNSC has found if fit to support their journey. and the move was intended to instill a spirit of playing the sport, but most importantly to continue the legacy of sport development. He said softball was not just a sport, but also a vibrant community that fosters team work, discipline and resilience. 

Morule said for many years, the BSA has been the cornerstone of the sporting landscape and therefore was working on rekindling the legacy. He said Botswana was once the regional powerhouse in softball, therefore the move was to reignite such. 

Morule said in future, it would be difficult for BNSC to consider supporting and funding the BSA for international competitions while they were failing to organise regional competitions. 

“If you cannot compete at home, how then are you able to compete internationally? In as much as we think about sport development, you must realise that even in the region, we can resuscitate and play in Zone VI,” he stated. 

He said the league was not just a competition as it represented the heart and soul of the community, offering a platform for aspiring athletes to showcase their skills and passion. Morule also said the focus would be on encouraging more young players to join the sport, as by so doing, they will be building a rigid future for softball. 

He appealed to masters players to assist in growing and nurturing young players. Also, he said the association and clubs must in the absence of school sport, seize the opportunity and ensure sustainable growth of the sport and feed the national teams with quality. 

“We are about to engage on the Matlhagolatsela programme and hopeful it will bring the desired change,” he said, adding that since the teams were active, they must equally focus on youth development and lay a foundation for Matlhagolatsela. 

“Let us come together and support the development of softball in the country to celebrate our heritage and build a bright future for our athletes. Together we can make this league a beacon of hope and inspiration, reminding us of the power of sports to transform our lives and communities, at the same time providing the necessary entertainment,” he said. 

BSA president, Tirelo Mukokomani noted with concern and anxiety the lack of softball in the play field. However, Mukokomani said even though the return of softball will start with a league, their primary focus will be on grassroots development. He concurred with other speakers that softball has accomplished a lot in the past, producing world-class players. 

“We need to understand the value of sport in our lives,” he said. 

Mukokomani said the absence of school sport has taught the BSA a valuable lesson, and therefore, they were making efforts to develop the sport. Ends