NAN-S-4
Baseball
By Kemi Ajayi
Lagos, Aug. 25, 2017 (NAN) Yinka Adewusi, a consultant for Major League Baseball (MLB) in West Africa, has said the growth of the sport in the country was a stakeholders’ collective responsibility.
Adewusi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos that crisis among Nigerian Baseball and Softball Association members had affected the growth of the sport.
“There is need for a better cooperation among members of baseball and softball association in Nigeria for a better and effective development of the sport at the grassroots.
“Baseball and softball ought to have developed better than what we have now in Nigeria, but the in-fighting, allegations and counter-allegations among members is affecting the growth of the game.
“For us to forge ahead, we need to have a common voice, work together and forget about personal interests.
“The interest of the players should be the main priority of all members because they are always at the receiving end when there is any crisis,’’ he said.
The consultant, however, commended the organisers of the ongoing Ayangburen Baseball and Softball Championships.
He said that the skills exhibited by participants showed that the future was bright for the sport in Nigeria.
Adewusi said that effort should be made to nurture talents identified in the championships for national teams.
“I want to commend Baseline Foundation for staging the competition; I urged the body not to relent on its effort in promoting the sport at the grassroots,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Excellers Club of Ibadan has defeated Oyemekun of Akure with 14 runs to 2 in the U-13 category, while Led Warriors Softball Club of Lagos thrashed Acumen Softball Club of Ibadan by 17 runs in the U-17 event on Friday.
The championships, holding at the Effortswill Academy, Ejigbo, Lagos, and which began on Aug. 21 will end on Aug. 26. (NAN)
KOA/DEB/PDE
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(Editing by Debo Oshundun/Peter Ejiofor)