It will be the first time in the 66-year history of the Little League World Baseball Series that Africa will be represented by Lugazi Rovers who left the country yesterday.
Paul Kateregga, team manager, told Uganda Radio Network as the team headed to Entebbe International Airport that they are more than ready for the event. He said that though the team was playing in the series for the first time, the boys are confident and rearing to go.
To qualify for the World Series, Lugazi Rovers defeated Kuwait City, Kuwait 5-2 last month in final of the Middle East and Africa Region championship game in Kutno, Poland.
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. But this time round the Little League World Baseball authorities helped the Ugandan team get their paper work right and be able to get the visas.
The World Series which runs in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, will attract top teams from around the world from August 16-26. Lugazi Rovers will get to the field on August 17 taking on a team from Latin America. The winner of the game will play the winner between Mexico and Canada. Early this year the Ugandan youngsters had chance to host the Canada team that they beat at the Nakirebe Complex on Masaka Road.
Kateregga told URN that after winning in Poland last month, the boys have gained lots of confidence and know results will come with hard work.
It will be a big achievement for a Ugandan team after Little League Baseball was started in 2005, but the sport has had a presence in the country for some time thanks to Christian missionaries and members of the Japanese Peace corps.
The Lugazi Rovers team that travelled to the US yesterday includes 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. Henry Odong is coach of the team, while team manager is Paul Kateregga.
