POLOKWANE – The 48-year-old mentor is the head coach of the Limpopo Softball senior men’s team and the assistant coach of the South African senior men’s team.
He has been a cog in the Limpopo Softball Association (LSA) for the past 30 years and played a key role in unearthing the abundant softball talent in the province.
As a coach, Raphalo traverses various rural areas in the province as well as the schools and institutions of higher learning to identify and nurture softball talent.
Over the years, he has produced local players who play at top softball clubs in the country.
“I have been playing softball for 30 years and I played a pivotal role in developing players and coaches in the province. I still want to produce more and I think the province is more than capable of producing top talents. We did not have resources in the past years but we are gradually getting more. We have softball diamonds in Seshego, Mahwelereng, Lebowakgomo and Zebediela and that is encouraging. A world-class softball stadium is under construction in Polokwane and I think it will help us to keep the softball talent in the province.”
He said the evolution of the game will enable the players to prosper. “The game has evolved and it is too technical these days. The playing equipment has improved, as back in the days we used heavy Magnum bats as compared to the variety of good bats used these days. Coaches now are more tactical in their approaches as compared to those who used to coach us in the past years. I don’t see any reason why players should not flourish as the platform is well set for them.”
As a player, Raphalo won numerous awards and he was part of the LSA masters who won the national masters championship at the Crafford Softball Stadium in Pretoria on September 25.
He was also bestowed with the top batter award at the Lesotho Zone 6 games in 2005 while he played for the national team.
