The Ekiti State baseball team welcomed the Rivers State Baseball Team for a friendly match at Christ’s School Field in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday , demonstrating their commitment to the sport. However, this event has also served as a call for investment and dedication to developing baseball in the state.
Rivers State Baseball Team, on a nationwide training tour before their international competition in the USA, played games against several states.
Unfortunately, Team Oyo declined the invitation for a friendly match, opening the door for Ekiti to extend their hospitality, an initiative solely initiated by the team Ekiti Head coach Oluwafemi Aina.
The game which started competitively however ended in favor of Rivers State. The Ekiti State baseball team, despite showing promise, faced challenges due to limited playing time as a cohesive unit. This experience emphasized the need for continued support and development of baseball in Ekiti.
Coach Jacob Albert -Dede, the Rivers State baseball coach, praised Ekiti’s discipline and competitiveness and encouraged them to stay united, emphasizing that with dedication, they could become an unbeatable team within a short time.
As Ekiti State seeks to boost its baseball presence, this match highlights the importance of investing in and nurturing local talent within the sport.
The Ekiti State Head Coach, Oluwafemi Aina explained that in recent developments, the world baseball governing body in the USA extended an invitation to the Ekiti State baseball team, offering them incredible opportunities. Notably, several organizations in the USA even pledged to construct a baseball park (Stadium) within Ekiti State. These opportunities held immense promise, and the team expresses deep appreciation to Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji for his support in the sport.
He stressed that by November 17th-25th this year, Port Harcourt in Rivers State is gearing up to host another baseball tournament. While the Ekiti State baseball team received an invitation to participate, there is some uncertainty regarding government sponsorship. The team humbly appeals for government assistance, particularly financial support, to compete in the competition.
Coach Aina pointed out that the tournament presents a golden opportunity, as American scouts will be present, scouting for twenty young softball players who will travel to Washington, DC for tryouts in the early part of the upcoming year.
