Nigeria partners Japan to develop baseball, softball

By Kemi Akintokun

Over 35 baseball coaches and games masters in the country are currently participating in the ongoing Baseballership Education Seminar holding at Igbobi College, Lagos.

Kehinde Laniyan, Secretary, Nigeria Baseball and Softball Association told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday that the seminar/scouting programme which started on May 4 would hold for two weeks.

Laniyan said the seminar was facilitated by Shinya Tomonari, the President of the Japan-Africa Baseball & Softball Foundation (J-ABS).

“The Japan-Nigeria partnership in the development of baseball has entered two years with this ongoing Baseballership Education Seminar.

“Over 40 coaches and games masters drawn from Lagos and other regions in Nigeria are on ground to tap from the wealth of experience of Tomonari in teaching Japanese style of baseball.

“Some of these coaches will be recruited to get players, raise teams in schools and mandated to teach this important sport,” he said.

According to Laniyan, Japan is the best and biggest baseball nation in the world, surpassing the U.S. where the game originated from.

Speaking also, Tomonari said the country had so much to learn from Japan to enhance baseball development in the country.

Tomonari said the foundation was established with the aim to promote and develop baseball and softball for the African youth through Japanese baseball and softball style.

NAN reports that the foundation is also collaborating with other baseball and federations in Africa.

(NAN)