Rising staŕ pitcher; Seun Aphane is one of the yoùngsters that have cemented their places in senior team.
The South African senior men’ softball national side jetted off to the United States of America for their World Cup campaign starting on September 17.
The event is organised under the auspices of World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), the global governing body for baseball and softball.
The XVIII edition of senior men’s tournament takes place from September 17 to 21 in Oklahoma City.
This tourney is held on a biennial basis and is the international game’s Holy Grail.
South Africa qualified for their 12th WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup appearance, which will mark their fourth consecutive participation.
The reigning African kings booked their berth for this World Cup edition after beating arch-rivals, Botswana and Lesotho during the continental championships and repeated as African champions.
The green and gold brigade has played in eight of the last nine World Cups; their only absence occurring during the 2015 championship in Saskatoon, Canada, interrupting a streak of five consecutive appearances.
South Africa’s head coach, Lemo Raphasha and his charges left OR Tambo International Airport singing a song of redemption, understanding the gravity of the World Cup.
They are pitted against some of the world superpowers in Group C.
Although South Africa are the top-ranked team in Africa, in their group they are the second-lowest.
Ranked No. 18 in the world, they will face stiff competition against world No. 4 Japan, No. 7 USA, No. 13 Guatemala, No. 17 Colombia and No. 19 The Netherlands.
The Proteas will start their campaign against unpredictable Guatemala in a breakfast pool fixture on the morning of September 17.
They will have a mammoth task when they trade bats with Japan and Columbia the next day.
South Africa will wrap up their pool fixtures over weekend when they play against the Netherlands and the host nation, USA.
Softball South Africa president, Mash Matsetela said this World Cup event will be the perfect platform for the team to improve on their international rankings since they are in a more competitive group.
“Our international rankings declined due to our non-participation at the under-18 tournaments because these age group is a key feeder of the senior team” said Matsetela.
Raphasha has selected most of the regular squad members whose longevity spans over a decade.
He said “We have made a few changes in the pitching department but majority of the players who have been in the team are still here. They have vast international experience and understand what is required at this level. They been in the team for years during African qualifiers, junior and senior World Cups.”
Raphasha, the first-ever South African coach to win the National Championship seven times is succession with the Limpopo provincial team, Dinare, said the game has undergone a tremendous improvement.
“We have progressed fairly well over the years and as African champions, we hope to make as significant contribution on the global stage. Youngsters have emerged from junior ranks and have cemented their places in the senior team” said Raphasha.