The unstoppable Titans keep rising
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday October 19, 2026 06:00
In August, Titans Softball Club clinched bronze at the 2026 Women’s Softball European Cup in Wittenbach, Switzerland, before capping a successful season by winning the inaugural Makgadikgadi Grand Slam Series. The club’s rise to prominence is a product of a vision that began several years ago, when coach Disang Selemogwe set out to transform Titans into one of the country’s leading softball teams.
Since taking charge in 2019, after joining from UB Giants, Selemogwe has overseen the club’s steady rise to the top, with the team now competing successfully on both the domestic and international stages.
One of the club founders, Masego Kwape, told MmegiSport that Titans was founded in 2016, driven by a shared passion for softball and a desire to create opportunities for young women to participate in sport.
She explaine they wanted to build more than just a softball team. She said the ambition was to create a competitive team built on discipline, commitment, teamwork, and a strong sense of family.
“Our vision was to establish a platform where young women could develop their talent, build confidence, embrace platform healthy lifestyles, and grow both on and off the field. What started as an ambitious idea has grown into a strong and competitive women’s softball club, representing Botswana both locally and internationally,” she said. Kwape said they wanted to provide young women with opportunities to showcase their talent, compete at the highest level and develop into confident, independent individuals. She said they also wanted to challenge the traditional approach to running sport clubs by building a sustainable organisation with strong identity and values. “Ten years later, looking back at what we have achieved, I believe we have built something truly special. Beyond the trophies and international exposure, we have created lasting friendships, developed talented athletes and built a brand that we can all be proud of,” said the proud Kwape.
Speaking to MmegiSport, Coach Selemogwe said he took over with a five-year plan to challenge the established order in local softball, which was then dominated by the likes of Police, BDF IX, Wells International, and Panthers.
He said his ambition was to see Titans join that elite group and establish themselves amongst the country’s top teams.
That vision has translated into an impressive 2026 season, with Titans winning every tournament they entered, including the Botswana Softball Association (BSA) league.
Only the National Easter Softball Tournament (NEST) title eluded them as they finished as runners-up.
“Where we are, I cannot say if I have achieved what I wanted; it is not for me to judge, and anybody will be in a position to judge looking at what we have won,' he said.
He traces his journey back to 1998, when he was a temporary teacher at Bakgopeng Junior Secondary School in Lesenepole.
'By then I did not want anything to do with girls’ teams; I was coaching the boys' team. I met Boniface Tselakgopo, founder of Diphofu softball club in Tonota; he was the girls' coach. He advised me to coach girls, using the same energy I use in boys. He said girls are not given attention, as most coaches believe girls are crybabies.
'That is why in many sport codes, they do well in boys' teams,' Selemogwe said.
He said that conversation changed his mindset, and from that day he told himself that he would focus on girls and women.
'It is all about empowering the girl-child,” he said. Selemogwe explained that for less experienced coaches it is difficult for them to coach women, but for an experienced coach, it is an easy task.
He said the challenges he encounters motivate him to work harder. As a physical educator, he said, it is important to understand the anatomical structure of women. Having studied Sport Psychology, he said his academic background assists him greatly.
Regarding motivating his players, Selemogwe said that, as a professional, he makes them believe in themselves and drills them to be sharp.
He instils in them the belief that they are stronger than any opponent they face, which means they must train harder. He added that they undergo high-intensity training programmes.
He said playing in Europe had exposed them to different styles of play compared to what they experience locally. They competed against players who had been taught softball from a young age.
The terrain, spectators and umpiring in Europe were also different. He said combining the African and European approaches had made Titans a competitive team.
“When you bring up a big achievement like what we did at the European Women's Cup, where we won bronze, having been beaten 1-0 and 2-0 by the teams that played in the final, it made my players believe that they cannot be beaten by local players.
'At the Makgadikgadi Grand Slam, we did not lose a single match. We conceded only two runs, scored by Bears. We played Police, Ghetto Yankees, BDF, and Carats without conceding any runs, which shows how defensively strong my team is.
“I felt proud of my players because I have strong players who are also physically fit. My future wish is for Titans to dominate Africa and even win the European Cup. I want to see Titans become an exemplary club where everybody wants to play.
'I want it to be a movement that develops the girl-child beyond the field of play, even in my absence or that of Masego Kwape as the club's leader. That is why I do not want to see us having a men's side; the club should continue focusing on women,” he said.
Selemogwe noted that developing an athlete was a calling that required learning. It was not all about passion, but also involved an educational aspect.
He said it was important not to skip any aspect of coaching to avoid players growing up without mastering the basics.