Lugazi Rovers have managed to get visas to represent Africa at the 2012 Little League World Baseball Series in the US next month, a year after another Ugandan team was denied visas on grounds that they had over-age players.
In July last year, another Ugandan team qualified for the World Series but was denied visas after the US Embassy discovered discrepancies over players’ ages and birth dates.
Uganda Lugazi Rovers qualified over ten days ago after beating Kuwait City 5-2 in the final of the Middle East and Africa Baseball tournament in Kutno, Poland.
Paul Kateregga, the team manager was an exited man when he revealed to URN that finally the US Embassy had given the team visas to travel to the US next month. He described it as great news saying that the players shed tears last year after being denied visas yet they had qualified for the World Series.
To reach the final in Poland, Lugazi Rovers lost to Saudi Arabia 2-1 in their opening match before beating Qatar 13-1, and following up with 8-0 and 6-0 victories against Kuwait and UAE respectively.
Speaking about the team, the official said the youngsters train every evening after school in Lugazi, adding that when their holidays start on August 5, they will come to the baseball complex in Mpigi and train throughout till they depart for the US.
The junior team’s players include Andrew Namwanjja, Tom Anderson Ogaku, Lawrence Okonzi, Ronald Olaa and Fred Enzama. The others are Stephen Lematia, Tonny Okello, Job Ochon, Daniel Alio, Justine Makisimu and Henry Odong.
Officials are Coach Henry Odong, team manager Paul Kateregga and Richard Stanley, who is Leader of team.
