Dr Nozie Malunga-Payet: “Our ambition is to have Botswana compete for the first time in the Under 15 WBSC World Games.”
GAZETTE REPORTER
The Re Ba Bona Ha (RBBH) grassroots sports development programme for softball is returning with new enhancements designed to improve consistency, participation and training quality.
This came to light when PR and Marketing Officer of the Botswana Softball Association (BSA), Dr Nozie Malunga-Payet, discussed the issue recently.
Although the programme was originally launched several years ago, it faced setbacks due to shortage of qualified coaches and inconsistent youth turnout. With renewed support and resources now, BSA is taking steps to ensure a sustainable, effective development programme.
Shipment of gloves
“Our development team has been hard at work preparing coaches and upgrading resources,” Dr Malunga-Payet said.
“We recently received a shipment of gloves and other training equipment from the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), which will play a critical role in our training sessions.
“To create space for more robust development work, we’ve cancelled all Saturday morning games for the time being. Our focus is to build a stronger foundation through specialised training.”
Working closely with the Botswana National Sports Commission (BNSC), BSA plans to fully relaunch RBBH in the coming weeks.
Comprehensive approach
The programme will include outreach efforts and a comprehensive approach to retention across various regions, ensuring that young athletes have consistent, high-quality training opportunities.
From 12 to 16 November, the BSA development team will visit its centres of excellence in Good Hope and Masunga to assess progress and address any gaps.
Additionally, Francistown is being considered as the next hub for the grassroots programme while a trip to Maun is scheduled for later in the month to revitalise operations there.
“There are no shortcuts”
The association’s strategy is to eventually expand the programme to other towns, fostering a national network of youth softball development.
“Development is essential to achieving sports excellence, and we recognise there are no shortcuts,” Dr Malunga-Payet emphasised. “If we don’t invest in training from a young age, we can’t expect our athletes to perform miracles when they reach the elite level.
“Our ambition is to have Botswana compete for the first time in the Under 15 WBSC World Games. This will serve as a key pathway, nurturing players who will progress to Under 18, Under 23 and beyond.”
Effective retention model
Dr Malunga-Payet acknowledged that maintaining consistent participation among children in various regions remains a challenge. However, with increased funding and understanding from BNSC, BSA is working to develop a more effective retention model.
This model will focus on building relationships with communities, schools and parents to support and sustain youth engagement in the programme.
“We have strong backing from BNSC, not only in funding but also in understanding our long-term goals,” Dr Malunga-Payet said. “It is our hope that with this structured, development-oriented approach, we’ll foster a new generation of athletes who can compete at the highest levels.”