Titans Softball Club will take Botswana’s softball to the international stage when they travel to Switzerland for the Women’s Softball European Cup. The club hopes to use the tournament to give its players valuable international experience.
The trip will give Titans players an opportunity to test themselves against teams from different countries and experience a higher level of competition. It will also be important for the club’s players who are part of the national team, as they will gain experience that could benefit Botswana in future international competitions.
Team manager Onneile Segwai says the main objective of the trip is to expose the players to higher competition and a different playing environment.
“Our players will gain exposure from playing against better teams and also playing in a better environment. This is important because they need to understand what is required at international level.”
Titans are set to compete in the Women’s Softball European Cup in Wittenbach, Switzerland, from August 19 to 22. Titans, who will be representing Botswana, will compete against Wittenbach Panthers of Switzerland, Falun Revens of Sweden, Softball Team Kyiv of Ukraine and Panthers Wroclaw of Poland.
The tournament will be especially important for the six Titans players who are currently part of the national team setup. “They will get the necessary experience of playing on the big stage. What they learn from this tournament will be very useful when they return to the national team,” Segwai says.
He is of the belief that the experience gained in Switzerland could also help players who are selected for future national team assignments.
According to Segwai, playing against stronger opposition will help the players understand their strengths and weaknesses. It will also give them an opportunity to improve their confidence and learn how to deal with pressure at a higher level.
“This is not only about winning games. It is about learning, competing and understanding the level we need to reach. When our players come back, we expect them to share what they have learnt with their teammates and contribute more to the development of softball in Botswana.”
Titans will open their campaign against hosts Wittenbach Panthers on Wednesday, August 19. They will then face Falun Revens and Softball Team Kyiv on Thursday before playing Panthers Wroclaw on Friday. The tournament will finish on Saturday with the placement matches, including the bronze and gold medal games.
Segwai says another benefit of the trip would be the opportunity for Titans players to experience different styles of softball.
“Every country has its own way of playing, and that is another advantage of this trip. Our players will be able to see different approaches, different levels of preparation and different ways of handling pressure. That experience can only make them better players,” he explains.
The Titans squad will travel to Switzerland in two batches, with the first group leaving on Sunday and the second group departing on Monday.
For the club, the European Cup is therefore more than just another tournament. Titans see the trip as an opportunity to develop players who can compete with confidence at international level while also contributing to the growth of Botswana’s national team.
Segwai says the club’s measure of success would not only be the results on the field, but also how much the players learn from the experience.
“Our hope is that the players return better than when they left. If they gain confidence, experience and a better understanding of international softball, then the trip will have achieved its purpose,” he says.
