Chaos mars softball preparations
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday January 30, 2023 15:56
The team, which is currently in a training camp in Jwaneng, is expected to travel back to Gaborone on Friday.
According to information reaching Sport Monitor, head coach, Phibion Tawina went against the decision of the technical bench that selected the top 18 when the team went for the festive break. “The technical team selected a team, some players were dropped from the team. When training resumed, the coach decided to call back players who were dropped and leave out some of the players who were in the team,” a source said. “To our surprise players who were brought back are from his club, Police IX.
Players who were chopped are from the north. That has caused friction and clubs from the North feel betrayed. ” On the other hand, players are said to be complaining about the salty tap water in Jwaneng. Apparently the issue has been reported to the softball executive committee although by Sunday, bottled water had not been supplied to the team.
The source added there is concern that the majority of the players in the team have aged, which is an indication of lack of development in softball. In response to the allegations, Tawina said after the 18 players were selected, he had a second look at the team. “As the head coach, I had to make a final decision. I looked at the score sheets, which gave an idea on the performance of the players. I had to look at the critical positions and that is how I decided to bring back players who were initially dropped.
Of course, I asked for permission from the executive. Those players are here training with us and when I call a player for camp, I do not care which club they come from. When things get political, I stand back because I do not want to find myself in a sticky situation,” he said. Tawina said his main focus is to see the team qualifying for the next stage of the qualifiers that will be played in Europe in July. He added that the league will start soon and if any player who has been selected under performs, they will be dropped from the national team.
The head coach said it was not true that players from the north are overlooked when it comes to the national team, citing there is a player from Carats who will be joining the team this week. “Some of the players in the team are from the north.
It is only that they play for clubs based in the south. People who are complaining are just being unfair. There is a lot of talent in the north,” he said. Regarding the water crisis, Tawina admitted that players are struggling to drink the salty water. He said they use their own money to buy bottled water as the executive committee has not bought water for the team.
“I have informed the executive about this challenge and they have promised to buy water for us. I think the process of purchase is causing the delay,” he said. Botswana is scheduled to host the WBSC Women’s qualifiers from February 6-10 at the National Diamond in Gaborone. Participating countries are Lesotho, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and the host Botswana. The qualifiers will pave the way for top two teams who will represent Africa at the XVII WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup.