Softball plans protest against South Africa
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday February 19, 2022 06:00
Botswana accuse their neighbours of using underhanded tactics during the deciding match which the hosts won 4-3 during the final of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) men’s softball World Cup African qualifier. South Africa became the third nation to qualify for the World Cup that would be played in Auckland, New Zealand in November.
Europe's Czech Republic and Denmark were the first nations to earn berths into the top men’s softball tournament in the world. BSA president Katlholo Mosimanegape told Mmegi Sport that they intend to lodge a protest with the WBSC about how the final was conducted. “We are still waiting for a technical report from the coaches and we would take it from there,” he said.
The coach, Pako Maforaga said the executive committee would deliberate on the matter. He said if the committee concurs agrees, they would proceed with the protest. According to information reaching this publication, SA pulled all tricks under the sun to get a win against Botswana. The host had lost two previous games against Botswana. For the first time in history, Botswana scored 11 runs with SA scoring only three. The side managed to score after Botswana changed pitchers. The batting of the local lads was on top level.
In another match, Botswana scored two runs without any response from SA. SA is alleged to have installed a conveyer belt on the mound (where the pitcher stands). “Botswana was not happy with the decision of putting a foreign object on the field. The technical team raised the complaint to the organiser and the object was removed. As we were preparing to start, the object was put back again.
That did not sit well with Botswana players as they felt that would work against them because they have never played with a conveyer belt on mound,” a source said. The other objection that Botswana had was that all umpires were from SA. The only umpire from Botswana was Abel Mataboge but he was only base umpire. A source explained that Mataboge was the highest qualified umpire on the field and he deserved to be the plate umpire. The source further said those were some of the questionable tactics that the host country used to win and qualify for the World Cup.