By Moyahabo Mabeba
A critical moment raised the pulse during a watershed recent World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) congress in Bangkok, Thailand where Softball South Africa (SSA) president, Mashilo Matsetela was elected vice president of WBSC Africa softball division.
It was a revolutionary moment for African baseball and softball during the election process that took place at the Grand Fourwings Hotel on the eve of the global WBSC Congress, where continental delegates gathered to chart the future of the two sporting codes for the next coming four years.
Meanwhile, Uche Odozor, the president of Nigerian Baseball and Softball Association, has emerged triumphant as the new president of the continental body.
Mark Moreau was also elected vice president of the baseball division.
The election of both Matsetela, Odozor and Moreau provides a glimmer of hope for African baseball and softball, the two sister codes that are designed to coalesce on the international scene.
Following their momentous election, the duo articulated their profound gratitude to the entire African baseball and softball fraternity, emphasising the significance of collaboration in elevating the two codes to greater heights.
Many observers see Matsetela’s meteoric rise as one of the unparalleled success stories of South African softball in the new dispensation.
Notwithstanding his stocky stature, the “Gentle Giant” remains the epitome of administrative wisdom that brings swiping changes in the corridors of power at SSA.
Matsetela cut his administrative tooth at Mahwelereng Spikes Softball Club in the early late 1980s when he was elected as the team’s treasurer.
He systematically ascended to the position of chairman when the all-conquering Spikes enriched its silverware cabinet with a series of league and tournament victories.
Matsetela’s continuous upswing saw him assuming the treasury role at Limpopo Softball Association (LSA) from 2002 to 2007 and ultimately becoming the federation’s chairman from 2007 to 2015.
His financial acumen saw him elected as SSA treasurer between 2006 and 2010 and occupied the same position at Limpopo Sport Confederation.
When the national governing body was sailing through turbulent waters, Matsetela was deployed to by SSA council members to salvage the federation from being placed under administration.
As acting president from 2011 to 2015, he successfully paved his way to the highest echelons, in what could be seen as the springboard from where his international administrative path was launched.
When he finally became SSA president in 2015, he brought transformation to the national game in a manner never imagined.
South Africa became a respected nation on the international stage – the country’s national men and women teams became regular features at WBSC events.
While Matsetela was riding the crest of the waves in his own country, the continent was noticing his administrative astuteness.
His African path was paved in 2017 when he was installed as the WBSC Africa vice chairman in the softball division.
As one of the greatest softball minds in Africa, he become a member of the WBSC Hall of Fame Commission from 2017 to 2025.
Since 2023 until now, Matsetela has been WBSC Africa Region 5 chairman.
His new position bears testament to a prolific figure who is expected to steer African softball to the promised land where the game will be popular from grassroots level right up to the international platform.
Matsetela reckons the recent elections will play a pivotal role in positioning softball relevantly in all corners of the continent.
“My immediate objective is to ensure that WBSC Africa becomes a member of Associations of National Olympic Committee of Africa (ANOCA). This will furthermore ensure that each WBSC Africa region becomes a member of ANOCA regional structure. We would like to stage continental championships for both baseball and softball. One of our key objectives is to strengthen university programs in the continent. We also wish that university associations of various countries becomes members of the continental mother body and also stage African championships at that level. Furthermore, we would like to see more national university teams participating at international levels. This program will be supported by schools’ continental championships. We have good intentions to implement the same strategy with the Masters’ Divisions in the continent.
“We also wish to continue to develop administrators and technical officials. For us to have successful development programs, we intend to procure equipment for the advancement of national federation players. We will work tirelessly to acquire sponsorships for the various championships. That’s how we want to shape the future of our organisation in the continent,” said an elated Matsetela.
His sporting DNA has enabled him to wear many caps outside the softball fraternity.
The former chairman of Mahwelereng United FC between 2006 and 2013 has served as president of Central Lions Cricket Board from September 2024 to August 2025.
An astute leader who always leads with great aplomb from the front, he serves as the independent non-executive director of Central Gauteng Lions Cricket Board.
His leadership style has earned him individual milestones that makes him to stand head and shoulders above many among his generation of administrators.
While he was the head honcho at LSA, he scooped the Sports Administrator of the Year accolade during the Sport Awards under the auspices of Limpopo Department of Sport and Culture.
Matsetela was also a final nominee in the category of National Sports Administrator of the year by the Department of Sport and Recreation of South Africa.
Under his stewardship, SSA won the Federation of the Year Award during the 2018 National Sport Awards.
Following his continental elevation, he has been showered with compliments from some of the legends of the ballgame, most notably his predecessors.
The heartening tribute came from Mathews Kutumela who was inducted into the WBSC Hall of Fame for his pioneering work in developing softball in the country during the apartheid era.
Kutumela recounted the tumultuous era when SSA was under administration and Matsetela served in the interim committee that ensured that SSA is recognised as a fully constituted body by South African Sports Confederation and SA Sports and Recreation.
“When Matsetela assumed his role, he did a sterling job by improving the governance of SSA. It was befitting that SSA was awarded the Federation of the Year under his presidency. This bears testimony to Matsetela’s leadership ability. It is the kind of leadership that places softball right where it should be on the international map. Under his leadership, SSA is able to host successful annual National Provincial Championships and participate fully internationally. The country has well-structured national teams in both men and women categories and this shows great improvement for the game. Personally, I am proud of him and congratulations for his achievement,” Kutumela said.
Erstwhile SSA president, Guillo Marapyane said Matsetela’s recent elevation was overwhelming.
“I wish to congratulate president Mash on his election as the WBSC vice president in our continent. In president Mash, softball has gained a highly experienced administrator in sport, business as well as in politics. I have served with him during our tenure at LSA and SSA and found him to be a strategic leader. He has brought into SSA a lot of developmental changes to an extent that softball is presently enjoying recognition in the country. I wish him a long lasting success as an administrator at WBSC Africa,” Marapyane said.
Over the years, Matsetela has diligently served in various boards, including the Limpopo Tourism Agency, Limpopo Gambling Board, Limpopo SMME Support Agency, Ince Communications (Pty) Ltd, YOU FM (Pty) Ltd, SIHOLD (Pty) Ltd, Ubuntu Botho Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd, C and R Printworks (Pty) Ltd, among others.
Amid all the accomplishments and tributes, he remains a clean-cut administrator.
An academic to the core, Matsetela holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Education from the University of Limpopo, coupled with an Honours degree in BCom Economics from University of South Africa, and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University Witwatersrand.
