Limpopo Red Ants Masters are the champions of the 2026 edition held in Rustenburg as part of heritage celebration.
Limpopo softball legends, Red Ants produced a volcanic display of classical brand of ballgame to win the 2026 edition of the Masters Tournament in Rustenburg amid scenes of unlimited celebrations.
The Masters Tournament is an annual event on Softball South Africa’s calendar of events earmarked to celebrate the game’s heritage.
The event pitched off on September 24 with grand finale staged on 26th.
Manywenywe, as they are affectionately known,
catapulted themselves to the summit of the log standings in the recreational division with a superior run rate of 60 runs toward, and an impressive defense of conceding merely 20 runs in which they amassed 11 points.
Red Ants were on level points with Gauteng-based Best Batters on points but the superior runs placed the men from the Great North to the zenith of the table.
Red Ants’ latest accomplishment was largely attributed to the latest recruitment drive, welcoming the trio of pitcher, Cabla Mashitisho, catcher, Jerry “Gabrella” Mabala and utility, Daniel “Ma-Danny” Mphahlele.
The three musketeers, being relatively the youngest in a pool of old hands, provided the catalyst for comprehensive match-winning exploits.
Mashitisho, in particular, led with unmatched wizardry from the pitcher’s mound with a cocktail of spin pitching that left opposition batters perplexed.
The artistic drama on the field of play was genuinely the stuff of sporting legend and indeed marvel to watch.
Coach Biya Matlala has lauded the team’s collective commitment to bring the trophy to Limpopo, the ancestral land of softball.
“The 2026 edition of the Masters Tournament was truly a phenomenal moment for us. We embarked on the great trek to North West with a key mandate of making a significant contribution to the tournament. We brought all the available arsenals and staged a brutal combat on the battlefield.
“The gold medals are a reminder that the people of Limpopo are the indigenous custodians of softball and we need to prove that on the field of play. We need to preserve this legacy for future generations,” says Matlala.
Meanwhile, Moletlane Texas had the worst campaign, sliding to fourth position in the competitive stream.
This is a position they never anticipated, according to legendary pitcher, Nakedi Mohlake.
The spin maestro described the intensity of of the Masters Tournament as escalating and provides no room for sluggish performance.
“We approached every game with a sharp focus on winning but the game plan didn’t translate to victory. Every opponent was focusing on us and that can frustrate your game plan when you least expect. We lost against competitive sides, but it was an eye opener as we ponder the road ahead,” he says.
Tshwane side, Northern Bulls won the tournament with clinical fielding efficiency and blitzkrieg batting.
Diamonds and Stealers women won the competitive and recreational division respectively.