South African Colin Barrett named new head coach of Great Britain Men’s National Softball Team
The British Softball Federation has announced the appointment of Colin Barrett as the new head coach of the Great Britain Men’s National Softball Team. The squad is aiming to qualify for the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup 2022 in Auckland, New Zealand, after missing the 2019 world championship. Barrett replaces New Zealander Kevin Stockford in the position.
The British Softball Federation is proud to announce Colin Barrett (@colinb03), former @TeamSA2020 national player and coach, as the new Head Coach for the GB Men's Fastpitch Softball Senior Team!
— British Softball Federation (@BritishSoftball) February 17, 2021
READ: https://t.co/jsHKyRlkCC pic.twitter.com/NuaVGHNfDb
“I’m excited about the challenge ahead,” Barrett said. “I am looking to create a culture of men’s softball in the UK, from the Under-18s to the Men’s National Team. My vision is to get homegrown talent developed, exposing players to a higher level of the game to help Team GB grow and to strengthen the future of the game in the UK. The goal will be to get Team GB qualified and representing the UK at future Softball World Cups.”
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GB's Men’s Team, currently ranked 18th in the WBSC Men’s Softball World Rankings, is scheduled to compete in the European Men’s Fastpitch Championship this summer from 21-26 June in Ledenice, Czech Republic. The top two teams in this event’s final standings will advance to the WBSC Softball World Cup 2022 in New Zealand.
Barrett represented South Africa as a player in the WBSC (ISF) Men’s Softball World Championship 2000, where the African nation finished in eighth place as the host team, the best finish in South Africa’s history. Four years later, he coached South Africa in the World Championship 2004, leading his country to a 12th-place finish. Barrett also managed the South African U-12 National Baseball Team in 2017 and 2019 WBSC U-12 Baseball Cups in Taiwan.
