'Mary-Mary' Calls It A Day

TSHEPO MOLWANE
Staff Writer | Monday July 26, 2010 00:00

 

'I'm proud to announce my retirement from the game and it's something I've thought about but after the World Championships which were in Venezuela this year, I thought it was the right time to leave.

'I believe that I have achieved whatever I wanted in this game since I started playing and I've made lots of friends through this sport and I'm thankful to that. I want to devote my time to other things like my studies, which I have suspended for quite sometime.

'It is important to note that I'll not be completely lost to the game of softball,' said the 34-year-old Kanye-born.

She told Sport Monitor that she retires from the game as a happy woman because of the relationship she had with everyone at Panthers. 'I worked with a bunch of lovely players over the years and we've become more like a family.

I've no regrets leaving now because the team has very good youngsters who with the right attitude can dominate the local scene,' she said.

Modutlwa joined Panthers in 1993 as a student at Naledi Secondary School in Gaborone when they (Panthers) were still called KBL IX and she has seen it all happening during all this time.

According to her, when she joined, KBL IX women's team was still new and not among the best teams in Botswana.

'We lost a number of quality players to teams like Bears but that did not dampen my spirits.

'I was content to serve the club more than anything and we grew from strength to strength,' Modutlwa continued.

She has won a number of gold medals with Panthers notably national championships in 2002, 2003 and 2005.

Modutlwa also played for Manchester Mavericks in the United Kingdom (UK) between 1999 and 2000 and won some silverwares with them. Her dedication to the sport has seen Modutlwa winning countless individual awards both locally and internationally.

Modutlwa was first called to the national team in 1997 and had been part of the squad since then.

Though the national women's team has never achieved that much during international competitions, she believes that there is still much room for improvement.

'There is talent in Botswana, what is important is for Botswana Softball Association (BSA) to be more aggressive to get sponsorship for the League.

'If the league is running, then the players are going to be lively. With the volleyball and netball getting major sponsorships that should act as a motivation to BSA.

'In the years I've played this game, I would say the last three years have seen much improvement in softball in Botswana,' she said.

BSA president Marumo Morule said that though she respects Modutlwa's decision, he is disappointed because he believes Modutlwa was at the peak of her career. 'Forget about her age, she retires at a time when I thought she was fantastic.

'I'm saying this because at the World Championships, she performed very well as an individual. I'm worried by the fact that some of our players quit early,' he said.

But the BSA boss was quick to credit Modutlwa saying that she has been one of the consistent performers over the years.

Morule added that if Modutlwa feels that it is time to call it quits, they have to respect her decision.

National team captain Tshepo Letsholo praised Modutlwa saying that over the years, she has done well.

Letsholo pointed out that Modutlwa was one of the aggressive players in the national team. 'We might say it (retirement) came early considering she was still at her best but you never know her plans for the future,' she told Sport Monitor on Friday.

Her former teammate at Panthers Ophala Kethaetswe said she has enjoyed playing with Modutlwa because she was a committed and disciplined player.

'She has a good heart because she was always willing to assist other players. At the Panthers we were partners and had a good understanding. I   appreciate that she's leaving in style after taking part at the World Championships and would like to wish her the best for the future,' said Kethaetswe.