Tse ditona Softball tourney ensues
Sport
Multitudes of softball diehards are expected to throng the National Diamond stadium in large numbers to witness the three day Bofinet softball league extravaganza that will feature softball giants facing off for softball glory next Friday.
The tournament which has been dubbed as the “Top eight” comes after weeks of preliminaries for “Tse ditona” qualifiers.
Next weekend’s tournament will be a build up to selecting the top four teams in either categories who will eventually take each other on, in a bid to ultimately take home the crown. This has cultivated excitement that is expected to magnetize supporters to watch the duels under the floodlights of the refurbished softball pitch.
Among the teams that have qualified for the top eight are the who’s who of the sport in both ladies and men. In the female category are Wells International, Police IX, BDF IX, Rail Giants, Comets, Dinare, Panthers and Bears, while the same teams have qualified on the male categories with only additions of Gatalamotho, and Carats. Looking at the teams that have made it, prediction has it that even the ancient supporters will make their way to the pitch.
That the tournament will be used as pay back for other teams that suffered defeat in the qualifiers will only add on to the excitement. As for the ladies teams, the recent Easters Jwaneng tournament has renewed the rivalry and created necessary excuses for other teams to target the scalp of both Bears and Police.
Some of the teams have revealed to this publication their preparedness so far. The teams have expressed a stern desire to win most prizes and are engaged in rigorous training to ensure they are in line for a win.
Masego Kwape of Bears promised that they will continue with their fine form in the road to win the P100, 0000 and this could be evidenced by the acquisition of the South African coach Prince Matlhabela.
“For sure we must continue with the form this is a prestigious tournament locally and our current form attests to the fact that we are eyeing the glory,” Matlhabela pointed out.
The team has been on scintillating form in both genders especially their women’s team which has been winning their games with high margins, however on Friday night they begin the crusade with a tricky Dinare side.
Police leadership will also leave no stone unturned. On the men side ‘team Policia” occupied the first position for the whole of the first round while the women team qualified for the top eight championship at position one.
“We enjoying a good run especially from our girls and we expect the boys to also come up. As part of motivating the players we have purchased equipments to help the players in our intensive preparations, we are going for gold!”Adolph Malope of Police disclosed.
As for the northern side which has their pride pinned on both Comets and Rail Giants, who though seem pessimistic in their chances of winning the championship, Romeo Tshelametse of Rail Giants revealed, “Our players are scattered all over the country but we are trying though it is hard.”
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He stated that through the sponsorship of the marathon, the company will help promote healthy lifestyles and unity among the people of Selebi Phikwe.
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Sport
AFRICA’S RECOVERY: Sports as game changer
The year 2022 witnessed unprecedented phenomena. Several Africans- Gotytom Gebreslase, Sharon Lokedi, Victor Kiplangat, Tamarit Tola and many others- swept the World’s marathons records.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting control measures implemented in several countries, led to many high-level sports competitions being cancelled or shelved, the Dakar 2022 Youth Olympic Games was moved to 2026.
Founder and Executive Chairman, African Sports and Creative Institute, Will Mabiakop, says the inability to hold traditional and amateur sports events have had a serious effect on public health overall, including mental health, sparking a revolution whereby athletes began to talk more openly about stress, mental overload and performance anxiety.
“Africa is home to the fastest growing economies before the crisis, no longer on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). COVID-19 deepened interdependence between SDGs, making them harder to achieve, especially SDG 10 (reducing inequality) and SDG 5 (gender equality_ as the pandemic had a disproportionate impact on poorer countries, and heavier burdens (such as care work) fell to women.”
Mabiakop stresses that as policymakers contemplate actions to speed up recovery and build resilience, they must argue that sports and creative businesses should play a central feature in this effort.
“The sports economy worldwide is estimated at 5% of GDP, but only 0.5% in Africa. If exploited, Africa’s sports and creative industries can offer policymakers innovative solutions. Especially, as regards job creation, and providing employment to the 15 million people entering the job market annually.”
HOW CAN THE INDUSTRY DO THIS?
By leveraging the two-for-one concept: past studies shown that a 1% growth in the economy delivers a 2% job increment in this sector (these ratios are calculated using data from 48 African countries and adjusted to the reality of the sports economy in Africa by the authors). There are between 30 and 50 job types, in sports and creative industries, respectively. These jobs do not fade away with the first major shock.
Mabiakop indicated that policymakers can use these industries to tackle multiple crises- jobs, poverty, and climate risks. Sports diplomacy- defined as communication, representation and negotiation in or through the prism of sports- has proven effective in building inclusive and cohesive societies. Moreover, sports and the creative industry can support better mental health and well-being, both important for productivity.
“Policymakers can also be true to the game by leveraging culture and tradition to celebrate identity and reap commercial value in sports, textiles and jewelry. Creative sectors allow deeper connection with culture, are not easily copied and provide great economic potential.”
He said supporting grassroots sports has powerful distributional effects. “Fortunately, technology has made reaching wide audiences easier, generating higher rates of success when talent is discovered.”
However, Mabiakop held that potential pitfalls must be highlighted. “First avoid build it and they will come policies with infrastructures denuded from the rest of the ecosystem. Like the many sports stadiums left largely unused.”
“Policymakers must remain mindful of how these sectors move the needle in human capital development. Also, align the requisite public policies needed for progress from grassroots participation to professional sports, and even to international sporting events. They should also support investment instruments to render these sectors performant.”