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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On a cold and windy morning, softball enthusiasts from the Limpopo Softball Major Men’s League gathered on a dusty pitch. The Naledi Spikes diamond in Monotwane village, Ga-Mashashane near Polokwane was the venue for this round of games.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is nothing like world-renowned softball stadiums such as Lamson Park in the US, the Melissa Cook Stadium in France or the Turfhall Stadium in Cape Town.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1303515\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/team-spirit1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"423\" /> The Greenside Eagles get ready for a tough encounter against the Naledi Spiders. (Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The surface is rock-hard and dusty, there is no fencing around the pitch, there are no changing rooms or even a tap, and players and spectators make do with what’s available, using rocks for seating. The field is located along a busy main road near homesteads, creating a safety hazard for passers-by and motorists.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1303509\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/playing-kit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"436\" /> The lack of proper facilities such as locker rooms doesn't deter the players from expressing their passion for the game. (Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media)</p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1303502\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/fallen.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"375\" /> A Greenside Eagles fielder bites the dust as he tries to stop a run. (Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It did not matter that one team didn’t honour the fixture. The four that did – hosts Naledi Spiders, visitors Mankweng Pioneers and home-town rivals Seshego Cannons and Seshego Raiders – took to the field for a day of fun.</span>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another photo essay in </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick</span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: “</span></i><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-06-18-observations-of-the-beautiful-and-complex-relationship-between-people-and-the-land/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Observations of the beautiful and complex relationship between people and the land</span></i></a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">”</span></i>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the challenges, the passion shown by the teams, which have players as young as 13, defied these daunting odds that continue to face many rural sports teams.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1303507\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/locker-room.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"386\" /> The surface is rock-hard and dusty, there is no fencing around the pitch, there are no changing rooms or even a tap. (Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media)</p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1303510\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/running-to-base1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"384\" /> A Seshego Raiders player makes a run for base in the derby against the Seshego Cannons. (Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media)</p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1303503\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/game-on1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"306\" /> A batter attempts a shot on the hard-as-nails pitch, which has patches of long grass, gravel and rocks. (Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media)</p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1303512\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Spiders-celebration.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"407\" /> The Naledi Spiders celebrate victory over the Greenside Eagles with a splash of water on one of their teammates. (Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Softball remains popular in Limpopo despite the lack of facilities in the province. The Limpopo men’s softball team has been crowned champions of the Softball National Championship six times – in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The good news is that the government has announced that a state-of-the-art, R90-million, five-diamond stadium is set for completion in Polokwane in 2022. But until then… </span><b>DM168</b>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1303514\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/standing-guard.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"408\" /> Young players stand guard to ensure the ball does not hit motorists or pedestrians walking along the main road near the field, which does not have a fence. (Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media)</p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1303501\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/catch.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"423\" /> What a catch! A Raiders player just about makes it to base as a Pioneers fielder rises to catch the ball. (Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media)</p>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another photo essay in </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick</span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: “</span></i><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-05-25-fields-of-dreams-pay-homage-to-south-africas-floral-kingdom/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fields of dreams pay homage to South Africa’s floral kingdom</span></i></a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">”</span></i>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This story first appeared in our weekly </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick 168</span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> newspaper, which is available countrywide for R25.</span></i>\r\n\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-1304598\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/DM-25062022001jhbis.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"947\" />",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On a cold and windy morning, softball enthusiasts from the Limpopo Softball Major Men’s League gathered on a dusty pitch. The Naledi Spikes diamond in Monotwane village, Ga-Mashashane near Polokwane was the venue for this round of games.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is nothing like world-renowned softball stadiums such as Lamson Park in the US, the Melissa Cook Stadium in France or the Turfhall Stadium in Cape Town.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1303515\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1303515\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/team-spirit1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"423\" /> The Greenside Eagles get ready for a tough encounter against the Naledi Spiders. 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The four that did – hosts Naledi Spiders, visitors Mankweng Pioneers and home-town rivals Seshego Cannons and Seshego Raiders – took to the field for a day of fun.</span>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another photo essay in </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick</span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: “</span></i><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-06-18-observations-of-the-beautiful-and-complex-relationship-between-people-and-the-land/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Observations of the beautiful and complex relationship between people and the land</span></i></a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">”</span></i>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite the challenges, the passion shown by the teams, which have players as young as 13, defied these daunting odds that continue to face many rural sports teams.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1303507\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1303507\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/locker-room.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"386\" /> The surface is rock-hard and dusty, there is no fencing around the pitch, there are no changing rooms or even a tap. 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"summary": "The lack of facilities, rock-hard pitch and other challenges are no match for these passionate softball players.",
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The Greenside Eagles get ready for a tough encounter against the Naledi Spiders. (Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media)
The lack of proper facilities such as locker rooms doesn't deter the players from expressing their passion for the game. (Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media)
A Greenside Eagles fielder bites the dust as he tries to stop a run. (Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media)
The surface is rock-hard and dusty, there is no fencing around the pitch, there are no changing rooms or even a tap. (Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media)
A Seshego Raiders player makes a run for base in the derby against the Seshego Cannons. (Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media)
A batter attempts a shot on the hard-as-nails pitch, which has patches of long grass, gravel and rocks. (Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media)
The Naledi Spiders celebrate victory over the Greenside Eagles with a splash of water on one of their teammates. (Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media)
Young players stand guard to ensure the ball does not hit motorists or pedestrians walking along the main road near the field, which does not have a fence. (Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media)
What a catch! A Raiders player just about makes it to base as a Pioneers fielder rises to catch the ball. (Photo: Lucas Ledwaba / Mukurukuru Media)