2019 an important year for baseball and softball in Uganda, Kasozi

Hitter Paul Wafula is man to watch. PHOTO BY GEORGE KATONGOLE

Kampala- The next few weeks are going to be an important time of baseball and softball in Uganda.

Dennis Kasozi, the president of the Uganda Baseball and Softball Association (UBSA) said that the country will play in key tournaments. Baseball has just concluded Jack Robinson legacy clinics which were an eye opener in terms of development.

But the two national teams have qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa with a possibility of qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Africa Cup will be played in Johannesburg, South Africa, from May 1-5.

The winner will be the first ever Africa Baseball Champion and will advance to the Europe-Africa Olympic Qualifier, to be staged in the Italian cities of Parma and Bologna from September 18-22. It will be the fourth continental championship in Africa, following events in 1999, 2003, and 2007.

The winner of the tournament played in Italy will qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, while the runner-up will advance to the final qualifier, to be played in Chinese Taipei in early 2020.

The softball team has also stepped up training ahead of the African championship. Seeded second behind South Africa, they have higher chances of making the top two which earns them a ticket to play in another qualifier against six European teams.
The winner earns a direct ticket to the Olympics while the runner-up plays Chinese Taipei.