Limpopo men reclaiming the NPC with clinical display.
By Moyahabo Mabeba
Limpopo men’s softball team reclaimed the Softball South Africa National Championships amid scenes of unconfined delirium.
The annual tournament, which is the ballgame’s Holy Grail, took place at the Polokwane Cricket Grounds from March 19 to 23.
The team affectionately known as Dinare produced a volcanic display of classical brand of ballgame to beat their arch rivals, Gauteng 7-5 in an emotion-charged encounter in front of a vociferous crowd.
As the 2024 edition of gained momentum, the battle lines were drawn and Limpopo treated this event as an all-out war.
As an inter-provincial event, it usually features all the nine provinces including University Sport of South Africa trading bats throughout the week displaying softball razzmatazz of high octane entertainment.
Gauteng were in this tourney solidly entrenched as the reigning champions after the men drubbed Natal while their women clobbered Western Cape during last year’s showpiece in Durban.
Over the weekend, the focus was on Dinare who were eager to redeem themselves on their home turf.
They have historically dominated this competition for seven years having subdued their opponents under the legendary Lemo Raphasha, now the head coach of the senior national team.
Limpopo only relinquished their dominance when they finished downheartedly fifth under the guidance of Koloi Kekana.
In the aftermath of that downward spiral, there have been sweeping adjustments in the coaching department in which Thapelo Seshoka took the head coach position aided by Kekana.
In his eagerness to return Limpopo to its former glory, Seshoka has called upon the province’s trusted generals and lieutenants for this sporting warfare.
The home side was chock-full of campaigners with international experience and their confidence of winning this tournament was justifiable.
Like a nation heading to a World War, they were armed with the heaviest artillery regiments and it was be their bats who hit the ball with pyrotechnic brutality.
In his post-match interview with Mopani Times, Seshoka said “We brought all the provincial arsenal to ensure that we redeem ourselves. We intend to maintain this momentum for generations to come to preserve our legacy.”
Limpopo player displaying softball razzmatazz of high octane entertainment.