Eighteen players have been selected to the Tanzania National Baseball team following the Japanese ‘Sport for Tomorrow’ programme launched in Dar es Salaam over the weekend.
Through the programme, the Japanese government sponsored the National Baseball Competition that saw five schools battle it out and it is out of those games that the national team was selected on Sunday.
Most of the players who form the national team are from Azania and Kibasila secondary schools that clashed in an entertaining final decided by a vote after the two teams drew 4-4 after the final whistle.
Announcing the national squad, Team Manager Shinya Tomonari said the 18 players and seven officials will camp at Azania Secondary School to prepare for the forthcoming U-17 Baseball Championship to be held in Meru, Kenya from December 15-20.
Those selected include Ndashau Douglas, Ramadhan Ramadhan, Chacha Magaiwa, Mtenya Ismaily, Noel Nmary, Abdallah Abdallah, Christopher Sise and Sallah Juma, Mbugi Mussa. Others are Justine Castro, Marwa Geoffrey, Mkama Martin, Chacha Edward, Said Anwar, Luangisha Leodgar, Twalibu Abilah, Ibrahim Mpangala and Sheka Peter.
“The team will depart on December 13 for Meru and I want to take this opportunity to urge those who have not been selected to keep working hard as they might be called next time,” he said.
Earlier on, presenting the trophy to Azania Secondary School, the Japan Sports Council Director, Takashiro Waku, whose organisation sponsored the competition and also launched the ‘Sport for Tomorrow’ programme in Tanzania, congratulated all the players and said though Azania emerged winners, all the other teams equally performed well and had players with good potential.
“There is only one winner but all of you have shown great potential and created a lot of excitement throughout the entire competition,” he said.
The Tanzania Baseball and Softball Association (TaBSA) Secretary General, Alpherio Nchimbi, said the national competition was a great success and thanked the Japanese government that sponsored the event through the Japan Sports Council.
He said the competition involved five schools — Azania, Kibasila, Sanya Juu, Londoni and St Mary’s. Zanzibar came in as invitees but did not compete. Nchimbi said all the schools played well and exercised high levels of discipline.