Heavy-handed Police IX crush opponents
Calistus Kolantsho | Saturday June 4, 2022 06:00
The women’s side won the women’s championship in Selebi-Phikwe a fortnight ago while their male counterparts took the title last weekend in Gaborone. Police IX women won all the four group stage games en route to the final where they beat cross-town rivals, Titans 13-1. In executing the demolition job, Police IX powered through struggling Rail Giants 10-0 while Vikings were also on the receiving end losing 1-0. Carats were beaten 5-3 and Titans received a 4-3 defeat.
The women’s team pitcher, Onnetse Ribbin scooped the best pitcher award while Maga Mabutho was adjudged the best catcher. Last weekend, it was the men’s chance to shine at the National Diamond. On the way to the final, Police IX were unstoppable, beating Gatalamotho (11-0), Scramblers (13-0), Carats (12-1), and Wells (3-1). The final against BDF IX went to a tiebreaker with Police IX upsetting the army side 1-0. It was sweet revenge for Police IX after BDF IX beat the Cops 5-0 during the 2019 Phikwe Extravaganza tournament. There were individual accolades for Police IX players with Eric Simwanza chosen as the best batter as he walked four times and was the only batter without a strike.
Kunyalala Samuel was voted the best pitcher while Rannaneng Mothudi walked away with two awards of best catcher and Most Valuable Player (MVP) as Police IX showed no signs of abating. Police IX was not known as a traditional powerhouse and usually ended in mid-table, but there has been a swift change of tide. Police IX chairperson, Diketso Gaborone told Mmegi Sport that the players were reminded of where the teams were before COVID-19 halted activities.
Before the break, both the men's and women's teams were leading the softball league log. “When the return to play started we just reminded all our players that we were on top and everybody is expecting to see the same momentum. So we returned to training with full force with the understanding that our supporters were expecting to see the Police IX teams they saw the last time softball was played. The players did not disappoint, they went all out from start to finish. Like I said before the games, the morale was high before the championships,” he said. Gaborone said on the women’s side, there were no changes made to the team in terms of recruitment of players. The men’s side welcomed Zibisani Samuel and there were no players released. “Going back through the years, Police IX men have not been a powerhouse. We usually came in position four downwards. But we have been building the team over the years to make it a force to reckon with.
I believe we are not yet there. The women’s side was stuck in position five for a long time. Yes, there is pressure to play for Police IX these days because the competition on the field is at a high level,” Gaborone said. He said when it comes to recruitment of players, they normally recruit looking at the shortage they have in each department. He added that they focus on youngsters in order to groom them. Police IX pitcher, Samuel had a training stint at the Japanese club, Daiwa. “We always get requests from clubs outside the country to loan Samuel. The latest was from Canada-based, Alvinston Aces on a five-month loan. We do not have a problem releasing him because it is good for his growth as a player,” he said.
Gaborone said it has been a good journey for the team with a very happy ending. He said they are hopeful to keep the momentum in the upcoming tournaments to prove that they are a club to watch for years to come. The women’s captain, Nametsegang Tunah Passman said the club is a second home to her. She joined the club in 2003 while she was still a student at Madiba Senior Secondary School. “There is no pressure playing for Police IX. We only feel pressure when we have to achieve the targets that we set for ourselves like winning tournaments and being league champions. This is the fifth time we are winning the league and before this, we dominated the BoFINET League,” she said. Passman said winning the championship is a motivation ahead of the much-anticipated Phikwe Extravaganza. Police IX lost the last Extravaganza final to Bears. Passman said they are going to work hard to bring the cup to the Police IX cabinet.
The men’s team captain, Mothudi has been playing for Police IX since his switch from Francistown-based Scramblers in 2015. Mothudi said he was excited about winning the men’s Top 8 tournament. “At Police IX, we have a strong field of players. That means there is a lot of attention on us to deliver. So we have not been delivering because we lost at crucial times. This time around we stuck to the game plan and brought it home. We are now the team to beat,” he said. Mothudi said since joining Police IX, they have never won the Phikwe Extravaganza. The side lost the 2019 final to BDF IX.