Bots to host women’s softball World Cup qualifiers
Botswana softball hit a huge home run on Tuesday, winning the rights to host next year’s African Women’s World Cup qualifiers in a victory predicted to have far-reaching consequences for the sport locally.
Beating off stiff competition from Uganda, Team BW’s bid impressed the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) enough to be granted hosting honors for the first time in the country’s history.
Seven African nations will descend on Gaborone between 6 – 10 February for the tournament, with games to be played at the National Diamond and University of Botswana (UB) grounds.
Speaking to Voice Sport, Botswana Softball Association (BSA) President, Katlholo Mosimanegape noted this was an excellent platform to expose their players to the continent.
Mosimanegape explained that after the invitation was extended to African countries by WBSC, the softball committee approached the BNSC announcing their interest to host.
“We were given the green light by the BNSC and we put together a bid. In the past, WC qualifiers have always been hosted by our neighbours South Africa but this time we felt we were ready,” he declared.
Indeed, Mosimanegape, who doubles as a Senior Assistant Police Commissioner, stressed he had no doubts about the country’s ability to successful host such a prestigious softball event.
“Botswana is capable of hosting as we once hosted over 200 countries from across the world for the WBSC congress in 2017. We want to grow our sport not only softball but other codes as this is a message to other countries that we are capable of hosting major sporting events,” he stated with aplomb.
Mosimanegape is equally confident that hosting the softball extravaganza will create a lasting legacy and a ripple-on effect that will impact the sporting code’s development for many years to come.
The President revealed they intend to revamp the National Diamond facility to a standard befitting a competition of this magnitude.
The softball leader further told Voice Sport the budget for the games is just under P1 million, noting they are banking on both the BNSC – who he was quick to praise for their support – and the business community to help cover the costs.
“Hosting will not only benefit the sports community but it will also promote sports tourism. Countries participating will explore leisure places and the tourism sector will benefit. We want bigger and small businesses, hospitality and transport to benefit,” concluded Mosimanegape, his excitement obvious already even though the tournie is still over four months away.
Seeking to reach their 6th World Cup, Botswana must first rise to the occasion on home ground. The top two teams from the African qualifiers will then proceed to the inter-continental stage, where they will be joined by four more countries from either Europe or Australasia. The top two from this six-nation shootout will qualify for the WC, set for late 2023 with the hosts still to be confirmed.