TRIBUTE TO LEGENDARY SOFTBALL LEGEND
MASHILO MATSETELA
THE softball community in South Africa, Africa and the world has lost a softball legend and we are hurting.
Today we are reading the footprint of a softball legend. We are not battling to write and or to read Thabo footprints because his softball footprints are very clear.
Thabo was a multi award player in his own right. Very unique in stature, that defies the ordinary simplistic view of how a balanced physique of a softball player should be. He had the strength and the power to unleash whatever he wanted to do in the diamond. He was a balanced utility player. He was an indispensable player both at batting and defence.
Thabo rose through the softball ranks. He did not jump the softball development stages. He played for both the youth division and the senior division of his original club Lebowakgomo Wild Beasts. He went on to play for several teams in his journey to impart the knowledge of softball. Over and above Wild Beasts he played for Seleteng Giant Killers and Mahwelereng Spikes. He was a registered player of Mamelodi Pit Bulls at the time of his death. He also played for Best Batters masters Softball Club
Thabo was part of the Limpopo Softball Association (LSA) senior men provincial team. He represented the province at the National Provincial Championships (NPC) formerly (IPT) several times. He also represented the province at the annual Gordon Monk Tournament. LSA struggled for many years to win the National Championships since the formation of Softball South Africa after the new dawn of democracy.
More often the province would either reach the seminal but fail to proceed to the finals. The province that gave the LSA senior men team a tough time/ a run for their money was KwaZulu Natal senior men (KZN) team.
The rise of Limpopo started in 2004 at the National Championships hosted by KZN. LSA managed to reach the finals for the first time in the history of softball since 1994. LSA failed to win the finals against KZN and obtained position number two that guaranteed them silver medals.
Thabo was part of the team that made history for LSA, the turning point for LSA came in Bloemfontein during the National Championships hosted by Free State Province. Once again LSA and KZN played against each other at the finals. LSA emerged the winner of the championship. Thabo again was also part of this history making team in softball.
Thabo was selected to the national senior men team and went to represent his country together with the other players. Softball like other federations was confronted with transformation challenges in the national teams.
Thabo was selected to the national team on merit not based on a quota system. He went on to play and cement his place in the national team. He was part of the national team that represented the country at the following tournaments; 1996 World Series, Michigan, USA, 1998 Holland, 2000 East London SA, 2004 New Zealand, 2008 Zambia, 2009 Canada.
Thabo retired from the national team. The executive committee of SSA needed to utilize his skill and experience in the national teams. He was then appointed to the technical team of the national under 19 junior men team as a pitching coach in 2015. In 2019 he was appointed to the technical team of the national senior women team as the pitching coach. He occupied this position until his untimely death.
Thabo leaves a legacy that he imparted to the youngsters that he coached over several years. He was a role model to the young pitchers. He imparted his skills at club, province and national level. He was indeed a national asset and a legend to be celebrated. Join us as we celebrate his life because he left a mark and milestones in his softball life.
On behalf of WBSC AFRICA, Softball South Africa, and the entire softball community and our stakeholders my heart goes to the family, friends and the clubs he represented. May the good Lord give you strength and accept God’s will.
Man Home! Man Safe!
*Mashilo Matsetela is President Softball South Africa
