Baseball team chasing Olympic dream in Kenya

KAMPALA. Uganda’s baseball team wants to make history. As one of the sports that have been re-introduced to the Olympic Sports, Uganda Baseball and Softball Association President Dennis Kasozi hopes there is a realistic chance to seal a place at the 2020 Games in Japan.

Uganda begins their quest for Olympic qualification in Kenya after a 24-man team was flagged off yesterday for the Zone East pre-qualifiers in Meru. The team’s dream began last year when Japanese coach Tanaka Katsuhisa camped in the country to polish the squad.

During this time, Katsuhisa has been working with local coaches; George Mukhobe, John Bosco Ssempa and Henry Odong while some of the team’s stars including pitcher Eric Katwe and first base Job Echon are undergoing specialist training in Japan.

Seeded second
Kasozi says that they have an advantage as they compete as the second seed at the three-team tournament that will also have hosts Kenya and Tanzania.

“But the biggest advantage we have is that all our players are exposed and we are going to Kenya with our focus on the final qualifier in South Africa,” he said.

The top two countries in Kenya will qualify for a continental qualifier in Johannesburg that will be played between May 1-5. Burkina Faso and Nigeria have already joined hosts South Africa.

“Of course we are not taking anything for granted but all our preparations target South Africa.”
Meanwhile, the softball team has already qualified for the continental showpiece in Pretoria.