The head coach of Rivers State Baseball and softball Albert is taking baseball to schools as he prepared to organize baseball competition amongst 8 schools in Port Harcourt
Speaking to The Newswriter sports on their training ground at Isaac Boro Park, disclosed that he is expecting 8 schools between the ending of July and August, adding that schools from outside is also being expected to feature for the competition to be hosted by Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Dennis Albert Dede who is also a coach with the National Senior male baseball team has said that Baseball of recent has organised some youth progammes where the Nigeria National Baseball team even camped in Port Harcourt for 2 weeks, and later went out to face the national Baseball team of Ghana.
Responding to why Baseball is not so pronounced in the state the coach said Baseball is like other sports which play vital role but lacking in sponsorship otherwise it will be appreciated and made popular in the state where corperate and private support is guaranteed.
According to him, he is eyeing 12 schools as his target in Port Harcourt in his proposed competition amongst schools and later will increased to 50 schools within Port Harcourt, within year 2013. He also proposed taking Baseball round the 23 LGAs of Rivers State in a bid to make baseball a household sport in the state.
However, he said that for him to succeed in his proposal, the private sector, corporate organizations and individuals would also join him to make his plans possible by sponsoring the sports instead of leaving the sponsorship to the state government alone.
He revealed that the upcoming school programme is being powered by himself and other passion driven individuals.
He noted that a group of persons have volunteered to brand T.shirts for the children saying he would not mind if any other group or individual find it interesting to support him in any possible way.
He thanked the Rivers State government for always being there for him in all is Baseball programmes. ###
