BoFiNet Lauds Softball Partnership
Naledi Lemogang | Monday September 11, 2017 15:16
BoFiNet and BSA signed a P1 million sponsorship deal in 2014, and increased the amount to P1.7 million in 2016.
The agreement will end next year March.
Speaking during the BoFiNet, BSA awards ceremony on Friday, BoFiNet board chairperson, Ratsela Mooketsi said the company is very proud to have made a huge difference in softball through their sponsorship.
“A lot has happened in softball. Last year, we had to increase our sponsorship due to observed growth in softball for the past year. We now have more softball teams in the league,” Mooketsi said.
“Therefore, we hope to negotiate further with sponsorship deals so that we continue to support and promote softball in Botswana.”
He said in the last season through the sponsorship, they managed to add more stands at the National Diamond to increase the seating capacity to accommodate the large crowd that usually attends games.
“The success of the senior men’s team that competed in Canada is a positive sign of the impact of our partnership as BoFiNet and softball. However, there is a need to put more effort this season since now that softball has been declared an Olympic sport. We need to start preparing now, working together as different stakeholders so that Botswana qualifies for Tokyo 2020 Olympic games,” he said.
The awards were divided into two categories; the individual and the championship awards. The individual awards were reserved for the best performing players while the championship category was meant for teams that finished in the top four of both the men and women's leagues.
Police IX were the women league champions while BDF IX triumphed on the men’s side, both walking away with P100,000 each. From the men’s side, Police IX got a trophy and silver medals while Wells softball club received trophy and bronze medals.
Rail Giants settled for a certificate for finishing fourth.
On the women’s side, silver medal and a trophy went to Vikings, Panthers claimed bronze while Wells received a certificate for finishing forth.
Individual awards
Women
Most valuable player North- Boy Moitai (P1,000)
Most valuable player South- Bafedile Dube (P1,000)
Best catcher-Magdeline Mabutho (P2,500)
Best pitcher- Oreabetse Mojeremane (P2,500)
Best player BoFiNet league- Magdeline Mabutho(P3,500)
Men
Most valuable player North- Moalosi Morulaganyi(P1,000)
Most valuable player South- Moses Kgosimore(P1,000)
Best catcher- Tshepiso Mathame (P2,500)
Best pitcher- Kagiso Mogale (P2,500)
Best player BoFiNet league- Kaone Sekate (P3,500)