Forty is currently serving as the one of five certified coaches representing Africa in the World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC). He received his training in Florida, USA, towards the end last year. This was shortly after Softball South Africa, the national softball governing structure, appointed him as the Head of Coaches because of his exceptional sporting and leadership skills. “In my current local role, I travel across the country, setting up coaching clinics and identifying talent, even in the most rural areas,” he elaborated.
The seasoned first base player has, over the past 20 years, occupied several strategic positions in the Softball fraternity. In 2015, he was the national coach for the Senior Men’s Team. The following year he was appointed as Advisor for the country’s coaches during the world championships in Michigan, USA. In June 2019, he led the Senior Men’s World Champion team in Prague, Chez Republic.
Forty made his national debut in 1996 and was subsequently elected to the first team to represent the democratic South Africa in the World Champions in Michigan, USA. “I was one the first black people to play for the national team post 1994,” he added.
His softball skills have been developed since he was just seven years old. “My father, Joe Dau, founded the Jets Softball club in Atteridgeville in 1979, so this sport has been part of my life since childhood,” he explained.
Forty’s talent earned him a sports bursary when was spotted by the then TUT (Technikon Northern Transvaal at the time) Student Softball Coach while playing under the NTSU (Northern Transvaal Union league). He enrolled for Commercial Practice at TUT in 1996, where he later became the Softball coach. In 2007, TUT honoured the three players who have represented South Africa internationally, Gibson Chaba and Ntando Msimanga and Forthius Dau , through a special “GNF Baseball Tournament”, named after them at the Soshanguve South Campus.
Currently, Forty is the Centre Manager at the Soshanguve Self-help Association for People with disabilities, situated near the Soshanguve North Campus. The centre provides workplace learning skills for TUT students every year.
“I am grateful for the contribution the students are making to the centre. Apart from fresh ideas, they bring the much needed administrative skills to the centre. We also equip them with managerial an operational skills. It is a mutually beneficial relationship,” Forty added.
The centre caters for 72 people from in an around the township, including Mabopane and Winterveldt.
When he is not in virtual meetings, Forty clears his mind by working at his chicken poultry business situated in Maubane, Northwest.