Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

History-maker Tommy "TK" Kgomo is expected to arrive in Italy this morning to attend an advanced softball coaching course.

The 17-day course is organised by the International Softball Federation, the sport's governing body.

Also attending the course with Kgomo is Colin Stevens, who is the head coach of the South African women's national team.

Kgomo made history last year when he was named the first ever black head coach to guide Simunye, the men's senior national side.

The knowledgeable Kgomo also helped Simunye win the biennial Southern Africa regional tournament in Lusaka, Zambia.

"We are delighted that Tommy and Colin have left for Italy to attend the course," said Guillo "S'dumo" Marapyane, Softball South Africa president.

"It is part of our policy as Softball South Africa to empower our coaches. They will be rubbing shoulders with some of the best coaches in the world.

"This is a yearly course designed by the ISF Africa, Europe, the United States and Oceania. This time round, it's Africa's and Europe's turn."

Marapyane also announced that their various provinces were busy with the final preparations for the national championships in Cape Town in March.

Noore Nacerodien, Marapyane's deputy and president of Western Province Softball Federation, said: "It's all systems go for the national championships."

SSA will send an Under-19 boys' national side to take part in the ISF World Championships in Canada in June.

"Their preparations are going according to plan - our technical people are in the process of finalising the team to Canada," said Marapyane.

"The final selection will take place in Bloemfontein at the end of this month.

"The problem is that we had two junior tournaments in Pretoria.

"We had the Summer Games for the schools that performed well in their provinces last November.

"There was another tournament in December.

"The two teams will be merged to come up with one formidable South African team to make us proud in Canada."