The unpleasant change comes at a time when the club is trying to find its footing in the Botswana Softball Association (BSA) national league with the second round kicking off at the National Diamond today. The side finished the first round with three losses against BDF, Wells Internationals and Gatalamotho. However, the side managed to register two wins. The coach, Godson Kgaola Motsumi, told MmegiSport that losing players is part of softball and there is nothing they can do about it. “We now have to build, we are actually in the process. If you can see us at training you can see that we are ready to compete. Of course, the departure of the three players will have an impact on us, but we are not going to cry about it; we intend to bounce back strongly," Motsumi said. Police men’s team has been hit hard during the transfer window, losing some of its key players in Eric Simwanza, national pitcher Kunyalala Samuel and his younger brother, Zibisane. Simwanza has retraced his steps to Jwaneng where he has joined Gatalamotho.
The hard-hitter joined Police from another Jwaneng-based side, Wells International in 2019. Kunyalala and Zibisane have made the short trip to SSKB where they have rekindled their love with their former coach at BDF IX. Police have welcomed Motse Rabogatsu from Gatalamotho, and Obakeng Matlapeng from Rivals. Simwanza told MmegiSport that his departure from Police have nothing to do with the performance of the team, but to try a new environment and challenges. When asked why Police were having it tough in the first round, Simwanza pointed out that it was not a struggle, but a phase that any team could pass through. “At Gata, I expect us to play as a team and everything will fall into place and give Police, Wells and BDF a run for their money,” he said. For his part, BDF IX coach, Tebogo Makacana, said preparations for the league went according to plan. He said they started working on their drills last week, while this week, the focus has been on sharpening the offence. “Overall my players are tuning up well. I guess we will get to the level that we want very soon. I have brought in three players to close some gaps that we had in the team after one of our key players, Albert Kganetso, left for Gatalamotho.
He was the team’s lead-off man in offence, so this left me with a hole to fill up in the batting order. My short-stop player, Jurry Phiri, is currently inactive due to work commitments, so I needed to fill that position, which Kganetso operated in temporarily. I have also closed the gap he left in the outfield with another signing. The third player I have brought in will, however, be inactive indefinitely due to private reasons,” Makacana said. When asked if recruiting players from Police were not a way to weaken his former club, Makacana said although the cops lost a few players they are still a very strong side. He said BDF has a lot of young players who have potential and they are integrating well with the senior players in the team.
Meanwhile, BSA secretary-general, Same Molete said the transfer window which opened at the beginning of January will close today (January 31). She said so far the window has been active and the complete list of the movement of players will be shared after the window has been closed to avoid any complaints.
