FCT TO BENEFIT AS 260 GLOVES DONATION PUSHES BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL IN NIGERIA TOWARD OLYMPIC DREAM

By Gyang Dakwo

Baseball and softball in Nigeria have received a fresh push as the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Federation took delivery of 260 gloves to support the growth of the games. Part of the donated equipment will be allocated to the Federal Capital Territory to further strengthen participation and development at the grassroots.

The gloves were presented by Manato Sato, who represented Majerick, a Japanese sports development company. While handing over the items, he said he was pleased that baseball and softball are gaining ground in Nigeria, and he urged players and officials to make good use of the equipment. He expressed hope that the gloves would go a long way in helping Nigeria secure qualification for the Olympic Games in the United States.

The President of the Federation, Uche Odozor, received the items and described the gesture as a bold step that will help to raise the standard of the sport in the country. He said the journey to uplift baseball and softball in Africa has already started in Abuja, and he expressed hope that the continent will soon feel the impact. Odozor, who is also a candidate for the office of President of the African Baseball and Softball Confederation, explained that the donation came at the right time and will add energy to the federation’s development drive.

Odozor said, “The Federation has been active in setting goals for both local and international competitions. In May 2025, we announced plans to prepare Nigerian teams for the WBSC World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games, with special focus on regional qualifiers and women’s softball events. Nigeria is already seen as a strong contender on the continent, standing just behind South Africa in the history of the game.”

He further recalled that in August 2025, the Federation expressed concern when baseball and softball were removed from the National Youth Games in Asaba, even though all requirements were met. Yet he promised that the Federation will continue to work for the introduction of the sport in Federal Unity Schools and will stage demonstration events at the Nigerian University Games Association.

At the event, the Chairman of the Forum for Past and Present Chairmen of FCT Sports Associations, Sir Eze Ifeanyi Eke, who was represented by the Chief Operating Officer of the Forum, Agbor Clinton, thanked the donors for identifying with the baseball and softball community in Abuja and in Nigeria. He explained that the gesture fits into the Forum’s efforts to transform sports in the FCT by bringing government and the private sector together.