Softball body in bid to raise funds

MOSAH MOKGANEDI
Correspondent | Friday January 8, 2010 00:00

 

The party is meant to raise funds for the national women team's trip to the International Softball Federation (ISF) fast pitch World Championships to be held in Caracas, Venuezela in June. The afternoon tea party will be held at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC).

According to the association spokesperson, Kabelo Kwape, the party is one of the many initiatives that the association has lined up to raise funds for the team. Other activities include a family fun day and a cycling competition. Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC) vice chairperson, Dr Nomsa Mbere, is expected to officiate at the tea party.

Other dignitaries expected at the event are Assistant Minister of Local Government, Botlogile Tshireletso, Gaborone City Mayoress Veronica Lesole and the Director of Women Affairs Tebatso Menyatso. 

The party will be hosted under the theme, 'Empowering women and promoting softball.' Kwape emphasised that they want the event to be spearheaded by women from all sectors of life.

He said they believe that their women are capable and appealed to more women from outside softball circle to come and rally behind women softballers. The tea party tickets are sold at P100.

Botswana women qualified for the world event by finishing first in the Zone VI competition held in Zimbabwe last year. Botswana last took part in the competition in 2006 where it lost all its matches finishing 14th out of 16 countries. South Africa is the other African country that will take part in this year's event. The Botswana women softball team is not the only one facing financial problems.

Last year, players and officials in the men's team had to pop out money from their pockets to finance the trip to the World Championship in Canada.