Softball South Africa pitching coach Thabo Tawana passed away on 22 January in a car accident outside Pretoria. Tawana was a national team player and coach, and was currently serving as pitching coach of Softball South Africa's Men’s National Team.
“I am so sorry to hear of this unexpected loss, and I’m saddened also to hear this shocking news. My heart goes out to the Tawana family, friends, teammates, colleagues and the softball fraternity at this time of grief. You're all in our thoughts and prayers”, said Mashilo Matsetela, President of Softball South Africa, in a statement published by the national governing body.
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As a player, Tawana helped South Africa to finish in eighth place at the WBSC (ISF) Men’s Softball World Championship 1996 in Midland, the first of two times that the African nation made the top-eight in the flagship international softball event (the second time was in 2000, as host team).
As a coach, he was part of the staff that led South Africa to 10th place in the WBSC U-19 Men’s Softball World Championship 2018 in Prince Albert, Canada. He was serving as the pitching coach of the senior national team.
