Japan initiative looks to develop a Koshien inspired baseball tournament in Ghana
The Japan-Africa Baseball & Softball Foundation (J-ABS) will take the Africa 55 Koshien Project to Ghana. The project has the ultimate goal of holding a Koshien-like national baseball tournament in the country. The partnership with the Ghana Baseball and Softball Association (GBSA) also includes educational programmes for coaches and players, as well as equipment and field maintenance assistance.
Tanzania was the first African country to introduce a Koshien-style baseball tournaments and celebrated the ninth edition in July 2021. Kenya and Nigeria are planning to join shortly.
J-ABS's dream partner and former Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) and Major League Baseball (MLB) superstar Hideki Matsui will support the project through online clinics.
J-ABS president Shinya Tomonari conducted a baseball seminar on 14 May for 20 baseball and softball coaches. The goal was to introduce the participants to the Japanese style of baseball, based on discipline, respect and justice.
On 16 May, GBSA welcomed a donation of 1,013 balls, 97 bats, 329 gloves, 211 helmets, and 15 catcher-gear sets.
J-ABS collected the equipment through the Smile Programme in Japan and thanks to the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Kunihiro Isozaki of the Fukushima Baseball Project attended the presentation ceremony online.