The Executive Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Desmond Enabulele, has expressed his Commission’s commitment to encourage and develop Baseball and Softball games in Edo State, approving the inclusion of the games in the Sports Commission’s calendar.
Enabulele made the commitment when he received a delegation of Baseball Tomorrow Academy in his office at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.
In demonstration of his commitment to the delegation led by the Secretary, Ambrose Ozimede, immediately approved the adoption of Baseball Tomorrow Academy as the official team to represent Edo State at the forthcoming National Youth Games(NYG) in Delta State.
”I welcome you to the Edo State Sports Commission and I want to appreciate your immense contributions to sports development in our state. Yes, we are interested in what you are doing and want to say that Baseball is now included in our list and as well want Baseball Tomorrow Academy to represent Edo State at the forthcoming NYG. Whatever it is required to support and encourage the sports to grow will be done,” Enabulele stated.
On the request for assistance in the area of facility by the Baseball Tomorrow Academy officials who were on a courtesy visit, Enabulele assured that the Commission will do everything within its powers to make it happen.
“We are interested in whatever is beneficial to our youth. Our Director, Sports Development and Operations, Coach Osayomore Aghahowa, and the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Efe-Amenze, are also here. Please liaise with them on the way forward,” he directed.
In a remark,the Permanent Secretary of the Commission, Mrs. Efe-Amenze said that the visit by the Baseball Tomorrow Academy was timely, noting that Baseball and Softball are included in the Zonal Elimination Games leading to the NYG.
Earlier in his address, the Secretary of Baseball Tomorrow Academy, Mr. Ozemede, acknowledged the sterling leadership quality of Enabulele which he said inspired them to visit the Sports Commission.
”We are here to show that Baseball is present in Edo State and we want our Sports Commission, Chairman to know that we are developing young people in the state, and need partnership for the growth of the game in our state. We have a team of under 13 to 16 and we are based in Ayogweri in Edo North,” Ozemede said.
While highlighting the academy’s achievements which includes refining raw talents with strength from the rural areas to becoming stars for international championships among others, Ozemede expressed their strong desire for collaboration to further develop Baseball talents from the grassroots level in Edo State.
Also speaking, the Head Coach of Baseball Tomorrow Academy, Dr. James Asagunla (Administrator), said that their mission is to bring Baseball alive in Edo State.
”Thank God we have a committed Sports Commission Chairman that is interested in what we are doing. We have a team in Ayogweri and we are doing well because the talents are there in the rural areas. It might interest you to know that about nine of our players are going to represent Nigeria in a championship in Florida,USA next month.”
