Head Coach of Baseball and Softball in Delta State, Victor Achakpo said plans are underway to develop the game of softball and handball in Primary and Secondary schools across the state.
Achakpo told www.aclsports.com that some young children became interested in the game after watching it at the 2022 National Sports Festival.
The Special Assistant Technical to the Executive Chairman of Delta State Sports Commission said the forthcoming 2023 National Youth Festival in Asaba will be a platform used to sensitise the primary and secondary students interested in baseball and softball.
He said “My plans for baseball and softball in Delta State is to develop the game in Primary and Secondary Schools with special preference for children under the age of 15. During the 2022 National Sports Festival, young children became interested in the game; most of them get to watch the game on their television set.
“With Delta State hosting the 2023 National Sports Festival, I have a strong conviction that more children stand better chances of getting enlightened about the game”.
The former National team coach revealed that a South South Baseball and Softball Championship will begin in 2024.
He said, “Plans to put together a South South Baseball and Softball Championships in Asaba are in the pipeline and hopefully it will take place in 2024. Same program will be replicated in the six geo-political zones to move the game forward in the country”.
The former national team player hopes the sports is made compulsory at the National Sports Festival and made federated.
Achakpo said, “Baseball and Softball has been a scoring event at five previous National Sports Festivals but due to some unseen circumstances. We are hoping baseball and softball is readmitted into the National Sports Festival as a compulsory sport”.
“The late President of Nigeria Baseball and Softball, Dr. William Boyd and the present Secretary General have written to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to be federated; we are hoping the Minister, Chief Sunday Dare will approve it so baseball and softball will now be part of all ministry programmes”, he added.
