Selected VUT softball players take their game to Canada

Six of the Vaal University of Technology (VUT's) players from the team that won the National Provincial Championships, which took place in Limpopo recently, have been selected to take part in the World Series Cup, which is to be held in Saskatoon, Canada from 6-17 July 2017.

These players will be representing Softball South Africa at the championship in question.

Selected players: Mogau Thupudi, Nkomori Chepape, Sehlabi Molokoane, Phomolo Phaladi, Tebogo Mapheto and Matleng Phasha.

The VUT team has been playing for University Sports South Africa (USSA), has won the tournament six times and is still defending champion of the Gauteng Softball Association since 2016. It is the first club to have had such a large number of players selected to play abroad.

The trip to Canada has been the most exciting moment for this team, which has been waiting anxiously for such an opportunity to avail itself.

One of the players, Mogau Thupudi, said: "I am honoured to be among the selected ones; I have been waiting for this opportunity to come and was happy to grab it with both hands. I can't wait to compete with other countries and I hope that the scouts will select me to play for their team since the international scouts would be Japan, USA, China and Australia."

For Nkomari Chepape, this is a second chance because he was selected in 2013 to go and play in New Zealand, but due to injury, had to be excluded. He is now excited to be part of the team going to Canada.

The team requests assistance with funding, which amounts to R47 000 for each player. Below lies the breakdown of the expenses.

Return flight: R25 000Accommodation and meals: R12 000Visas: R3 000Apparel, including blazers: R7 000

For more information, contact Sports Officer Tebogo Mapheto, who is among the selected players:

Tel: (016) 950 7645Fax: 016 950 9763E-mail: [email protected]