Police men’s softball club faces trying times
Calistus Kolantsho | Friday July 17, 2026 10:37
It will be the first time Police have failed to qualify for the competition. In 2023, the team did not travel to Selebi-Phikwe after missing out on the registration deadline. In the league, Police finished in position three, and qualified for the championship, where they lost to BDF during the final. Wells tore the Police ticket to Selebi-Phikwe during the elimination battle. Failing to qualify for the tournament also spelt doom for newly appointed coach Molekane Bokhutlo, who joined the maroon outfit in May. He equated the team's performance to a cellphone battery dying at a critical point. “We had focussed more on offence because we had long been doing well defensively. But then our pitching department was our weaker link. Although I cannot take anything from my players, they worked, whilst they were fatigued.
Remember they played all games without substitutions, fatigue kicked in,” Bokhutlo said. He added that they thought the transfer of Karabo Motsholathebe from Gatalamotho was going to be finalised before the knock out stage, in order to compliment the pitching department. The coach explained the delay was due to contractual issues and that affected planning and they had to work with what they had, being to use one pitcher the entire matches, which was risky. “We trained with Motsholathebe and Kunyalala Samuel hoping that they will be available during the eliminations.
Unfortunately, that did not happen,” Bokhutlo said. “I was surprised to learn via text message that Samuel sent me, informing me that he had travelled to Canada. It is indiscipline and looks like it is recurring. But I will not dwell much on it because I have to build a team and move forward.” The trainer stated that it was disappointing to fail to qualify as he felt they were the better side but gave away the opportunity. Bokhutlo explained that Police conceded two hits against Wells and conceded seven runs due to self-inflicted errors. “Similarly against Gata, we conceded two hits and gave away runs from our own mistakes,” he added. In consolation, the Police women’s side qualified for the tournament despite struggling in the pitching department. Whilst Police's teams faced mixed fortunes, Panthers will make a comeback to the Extravaganza after a six-year dry spell. Both its men and women's teams made it through. Club head coach, Pako Maforaga, said when one has been away from such kind of a competition for too long, they prepare until the last day. “...especially when you have a lot of young inexperienced players. One day they are excited about the trip and the next day they are in panic mode.
Nonetheless, we are ready to give it our very best,” he added. Maforaga said the anxiety starts at training because clubs only register 17 players and that alone has them twisted in knots as they wonder if they have made the cut or not. The Extravaganza champions in both the men and women sections will each take home P50,000, whilst the runners up will be receive P35,000. For finishing third, teams will get P25,000. Teams that will finish in the top eight will receive the prize money. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) in both categories will each receive P2,500 with the stagger receiving P1,000 each. Other cash prizes will be awarded to best pitcher, best catcher, and best youngest player. Men Pool A: Gatalamotho, Comets, Rebels, and Panthers Pool B: BDF IX, Wells International, Rail Giants, and Carats Women Pool X: Scramblers, Titans, Carats, and Police IX Pool Y: Gheto Yankees, Wells International, Panthers, and Comets