Kenya wins Africa Catchball Cup in South Africa after unbeaten run

Kenya won the Africa Catchball Cup in South Africa after completing an unbeaten run during the week-long tournament held from Saturday, June 14 to Saturday, June 21 in Soweto.

The competition took place at Pimville Stadium in Gauteng, drawing teams from Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and South Africa. The event aimed to develop catchball across the continent, especially among women.

Kenya played five matches over two days and won all of them. On Day 1, Kenya secured three victories. On Day 2, it won two more games to qualify for the semifinals against South Africa. Uganda faced Gauteng Stars in the other semifinal.

Uganda placed third overall. Ghana had not played by the time the initial results were announced.

Teams representing South Africa included Limpopo, Gauteng Stars and Mpumalanga. Local schoolchildren and members of the surrounding community attended the matches to observe the sport and support the teams.

Papa Douglas Shilubane, President of Catchball South Africa, welcomed the visiting teams and described the tournament as an opportunity to grow the sport. “We intend to spread this sport across South Africa, and your coming here is a positive gesture,” observed Shilubane.

Roselyn Molakeng, Chief Executive Officer of Catchball South Africa, noted that the tournament gave her players valuable experience against international sides. “I congratulate Team Kenya for the win. We also hope to win in future matches,” she stated.

Shadrack Okello, President of the Africa Catchball Association, described the event as a milestone in the sport’s development. “This is just the beginning. We expect more countries, more teams and broader participation in next year’s edition,” Okello explained.

He also acknowledged the Kenyan Ministry of Sport for enabling the team to travel to South Africa.

The Africa Catchball Cup is among the few structured tournaments on the continent seeking to raise the profile of the sport through cross-border engagement.