Kenya Under-18 Baseball 5 team is set to leave the country on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, for South Africa for the African Youth Baseball 5 Under-18 World Cup Qualifiers.
The team is seeking to make history and qualify for the World Cup to be held in Mexico later this year.
Kenya will be battle it out against Uganda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, and Ghana for the two World Cup spots in the Super6 Africa tournament set to start on Thursday, January 9, 2025.
Speaking during the final training session at Nyayo Stadium, head coach, Joel Wa-Ngicho, said the team is focused and optimistic of showcasing Kenya’s talent on the international stage, despite the game being relatively new in the country.
“We are going to South Africa tomorrow, and we are going to win. We are ready, we are capable, and we’ll show them that we can,” stated coach Wa-Ngicho.
Kenya’s road to the African qualifiers has been nothing short of inspiring.
They secured a spot in the qualifiers following an impressive performance in the Eastern Regional Qualifiers, finishing second behind Uganda.
In the qualifiers, Kenya displayed exceptional skills, defeating teams from Tanzania and Rwanda.
However, their journey faced a bump in the final match against Uganda, a closely contested match that ended two sets to one in favor of Uganda.
Despite the loss, Kenya earned a place among top African teams heading to South Africa for the qualifiers.
“We learned a lot from that game because we lost in the finals after beating Uganda in the preliminaries. We’ve worked hard to address our weaknesses and ensure we don’t repeat the same mistakes,” added that coach.
Coach Wa-Ngicho’s sentiments were echoed by team captain, Peter Okinyi, who stated that they are ready for the challenge.
“Our team is ready to compete with other teams. We will show everyone that Kenya is nothing but the best.”
Assistant captain Valentine Elseba shared her excitement about the upcoming competition.
“Finally, we are going tomorrow (Tuesday), and I’m so happy. Our expectations are high, and we hope to win. As Kenyans, let’s show the world that Baseball 5 is a sport we can excel in and make our country proud, she stated.
Baseball 5 is a fast-paced, mixed-gender sport played by teams of five on a smaller court.
Its simplicity and accessibility makes it an appealing alternative to traditional baseball, especially in regions where resources are limited.
According to the coach, Kenya’s participation in the African qualifiers is not just about competing but also about raising awareness of the sport locally.
“Baseball 5 has made baseball more accessible worldwide, and many countries are now embracing it. Kenya is one of them, and our participation will inspire more young people to take up the sport.”
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