SOUTH Africa’s brand-new Softball National Club Championships (NCC) ambles into action at Red Sox diamonds in Kempton Park on August 30-31.
The inaugural edition of the NCC will be the new dawn in South African softball as the powers that be at Softball South Africa (SSA) remain resolute in elevating the game to meet international standards. The two-day event, which is second biggest event on SSA’s calendar, seeks to settle the dispute about the identity of the country’s top clubs. A total numbers of 10 teams, six from the men and four from the women’s categories, are expected to trade bats during this eagerly awaited event.
In the men section, the campaigners are Eastern Cape Yankees, Lebowakgomo Wild Beasts, Nyakallong Spartans, Moletlane Moletlane Texas, Sasol Yankees and Tribe Hawks. The women section will feature Eastern Cape Titans, Moletjie Cheetahs, Texas and Valhalla Viqueens Baseball and Softball Club. In the men’s stream, teams will play a single round robin format and the top three teams will play in the play-offs. In the women’s category, teams will play in the double round robin system and the top two sides will play in the final match.
SSA president, Mash Matsetela is justifiably on cloud nine as the governing body stages the 2025 edition. “This is a culmination of many years of consultations with our members. We are pleased that our members have given the executive committee the green light to implement the resolution of the council to stage this tournament. We are also elated that clubs that have won their provincial leagues have agreed to participate in this inaugural tournament. We are looking forward to an entertaining softball event over the weekend. We invite the fans and supporters of various clubs to come in numbers to back their clubs. The end in mind is to ensure that the winners of our national championships go and participate at the Region Five Club Championships. It’s game time,” said Matsetela.
The 2025 edition is expected to be the theatre of dreams for youngsters to shine on the biggest stages to bask in the limelight. A new generation of stars has emerged through the ranks in respective provincial leagues over the seasons, adding a sense of optimism for the national game. In various parts of the country, it has been an unusually fruitful campaign for new stars, marking the first time in several seasons so that many rookies made such a forceful impact. In a campaign that has been markedly open, with no side able to dominate, the list of talented young players comes from a wide spectrum of clubs. The more immediate ambition of the 10 competing clubs will be to win some form of silverware over the duration of the campaign, but the NCC is also a training college for the new talent that South Africa hopes to parade at national team level when they participate at WBSC international tournaments. With fewer of the country’s key players now on the verge of retirement, the NCC will definitely be the biggest hatchery of talent for the national side and a channel for the hopes of a country keen on improving its international rankings. This season will see the focus starkly on several youngsters who can be considered hot favourites to play for the country on the game’s Holy Grail.
It is an old cliché, but form truly goes out of the window in these fixtures, where passion from the grandstand is transferred to the pitch and heroes are born. The men section promises a ballgame of high-octane drama of belligerent batting and creative fielding. From Limpopo with unmatched talent and oversupply of eternal rising stars, Texas will be the team every side will be targeting. Texas boasts the highest number of players with international experience, making them the ultimate hatchery of national talent. Coach Thapelo Seshoka is well aware of the imminent threat, however, he remains unworried yet philosophical when he notes. “The battle is going to be far greater than what other teams could anticipate. All these teams are going to be gunning for us. We are looking forward to high intensity games when we clash against teams from Gauteng in particular. However, we have seasoned campaigners who are mentally and physically armed for this battle. At Texas we pride ourselves with the level of depth in the team. We have highly experienced senior players who will contribute immensely yet aided by the competitive rising stars who are eager to raise the bar at this big stage,” Seshoka noted. Kagiso “Seun” Aphane is expected to lead from the pitcher’s mound with his calm demeanour and attention to detail. Perennial World Cup campaigner, Mahau Thupudi, Lucas Ledwaba, Koketso Kekana, Marobole Masemola and Lesiba Tlamatsana are among the sharp arrows in Seshoka’s quiver. In these cutthroat matches, Texas is expected to open the floodgates in a breakfast fixture against Spartans in a game the Limpopo side intends to use as a prelim ahead of the real test of endurance. The maroon and white machine from the citrus hub of Zebediela will embark on the great trek to Ekurhuleni solidly entrenched as the reigning kings of Limpopo Softball Association following a dramatic dismantling of Wild Beasts during their play-offs. The two cross-village foes will revive their rivalry in an attritional Limpopo derby that has all the hallmarks of a swashbuckling affair. The archetypal second baseman, Reitumetse Kekana may not be the symbolic heart of Texas’ batting agenda, but the young lad’s clinical defence remains an excellent piece of fielding with remarkable flourish. Texas will also face stern opposition when they collide against Hawks in an encounter scheduled under floodlights on Saturday.
Hawks relished the prospects of playing against Texas, inarguably the most star-studded team in the country. The Tshwane North-based outfit will make the short trip to Kempton Park with talismanic pitcher, Pierre Neethling who is the team’s key weaponry, aided by his son, Jadon who made a remarkable impact during the NPC as Gauteng’s pitcher-in-chief. The Hawks will also pin their faith on influential former national captain in Corne de Lange and seasoned campaigners, Choppie van Niekerk, Michael Jacobs, Christo Erasmus and JP Pienaar who have all donned national colours. Coach Michael Jacobs said they have been longing for this opportunity to prove their aristocracy in the national club contest. “It’s been years since we have been waiting for this moment to prove that we are the best team in the country. Now that this moment has arrived, we are going to settle this argument on the field of play with quality fielding and batting,” Jacobs said. Bringing sex appeal to the event will definitely add some livening human drama as women are billed to give fans some glimpses of brilliance. Viqueens team manager, Juanita Beukman has expressed confidence in her technical team under internationally acclaimed coach, Hayley Scott-Maree and her charges. Beukman has lauded the level of depth in the team and the intelligence of the coach as the trump card that could take them to silverware table. “We have two national players who will be influential in the squad. The mere fact that we have a coach with international experience is a morale booster. For us to have reached so far took a lot of sacrifices and dedication in every single league game. Our focus now is to win the ultimate prize as a reward for unrelenting teamwork,” she said.
Moletjie Cheetahs will descend to “The Place of Peace” on a soul-searching mission. Their pitcher, Belinda Nkoana said they want to use the NCC as a sharpening tool to heighten their game. “Upon qualification for these championships, morale in the team skyrocketed and everyone is motivated. We will be in this event to add more value to women softball not just to add to the numbers. Winning any silverware will be motivational enough to improve the standard of the game in our province,” she said.
By MOYAHABO MABEBA