Lack of Baseball/Softball kits, equipment in Sports shops in Nigeria worrisome says coach

Posted : 17 April 2023

Rashidat Ogundele, a Coach and Team Manager for a private Baseball and Softball club in Badagry, Rak Angels, on Monday expressed displeasure on the non-availability of Baseball/Softball kits and equipment in the local sports shops in Nigeria

“I also started off my career in Baseball in the little league which is the foundation and I have grown in the sport, although there was a time I left the game due to my marital status, but I am back.

Ogundele in an interview with Africa Sport Network (ASN) further clarified that almost all of the equipment used in Baseball/Softball were sorted for through importation.

“Setting up the club was not easy at all, but I give kudos to the parents who allowed their children to do the sport because another issue is that the equipment for the game are expensive.

“The children playing Baseball/Softball are excited to be here at least to showcase what stuff they have. My team are not also doing badly in the tournament,” she said.

Ogundele said that the stakeholders needed to do more in making available the Baseball/Softball equipment while she decried unavailability of the equipment in sports shops.

“It is so sad that there is no single sports shop in Nigeria selling Baseball/Softball kits and equipment, all what we have been depending on is through help from others in oversees.

“Baseball/Softball equipment are not in stock in any of sports shop that I know of, we usually get the equipment as second hand use from abroad which is not easy at all.

“Also, Baseball/Softball kits are very expensive, so we need to thank the parents of the kids for buying the kits for the children. We import everything from ball, to glove to helmet and others,” she said.

“Baseball/Softball equipment are not in stock in any of sports shop that I know of, we usually get the equipment as second hand use from abroad which is not easy at all.

Adekalu Bulls, Nigeria’s representative at the maiden West Africa Little League tournament, won the Baseball and Softball categories.

Adekalu Bull warded off oppositions from Republic of Benin and Cote D’Ivorie and four other Nigerian teams to emerge champions in the four-day tournament.

Team Benin Republic came second, while Team Cote D’Ivoire came third in the Baseball category.

In the Softball category, Adekalu Bulls are champions, while Lagos-based Team Rak Angels came second, and Team Yenogoa came third.

The tournament was held at Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos

Lack of Baseball/Softball kits, equipment in Sports shops in Nigeria worrisome says coach

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