Softball team off to Venezuela

MOSAH MOKGANEDI
Correspondent | Monday June 21, 2010 00:00

 

The 17-member squad is under the tutelage of Titeo Mangope. Speaking at a press conference before the team's departure, the Botswana Softball Association (BSA) president Marumo Morule said the association has done everything to make sure that the team players get enough training. He said it is now up to the team to deliver.

'This is a moment of happiness and pride for us to be sending the team to the championships,' Morule said. He stated that unlike before, they have been able to get all the players in time to train together and there have been no money problems.

The team got funding from the Botswana National Sports Council (BNSC). Morule said the team will play two build-up matches against Great Britain and Czech Republic today and tomorrow.

The team coach told members of the press that he was not under any pressure in selecting players as was alleged in the local media. He said it was true that the initially selected team was dissolved but said that was because some procedures were not followed in selecting it.

Mangope said it was a challenge having to bring players from different teams and making them to understand each other's style but said he managed to do so. This is the third time that Botswana women will take part in this competition. They first took part in the competition in 1996 and the last time they took part in the event was in 2006 when they finished 14 out of sixteen countries that participated.

The coach, Titeo Mangope, would not say how they are going to perform at the tournament because they are aware that it is going to be tough. 'But we are going to fight.

We will do our best,' Mangope said. He stated that even if they do not win, the exposure they will get would go a long way in helping softball locally.