Wheelchair softball introduced in Africa; call for support
Ambassador for the newly introduced wheelchair softball in Africa Chidozia Uwazie has called for support for the sport for physically challenged people.
According to him, wheelchair basketball players in Ghana and Nigeria have volunteered to lend their wheelchairs in support of softball in Africa.
He bemoaned the lack of support for sports involving physically challenged people unlike the general support received by their counterparts in other parts of the world.
“In Nigeria we have passed through a lot of challenges and its is even all over the African continent except places like South Africa which is a little bit different because over there the government gives them support but in places like West Africa the government in those countries are not willing to help. In Nigeria where I am we are not even treated like citizens of the country they would rather we go and beg on the streets” he lamented
“Ghana and Nigeria wheelchair basketball teams are even giving us their wheelchairs to make sure we are able to take part in this softball game” he said
He revealed that he has already reached people on the internet and also the world body of the support to reach out to the physically challenged people involved in the sport in Africa.
“I have been crying and talking to people on the internet and have also spoken to the international body and told them that we really need support in Africa to make this game a reality” he added
He said the participants have been given good training and will be more equipped after watching videos of the game. He expressed belief in Africa as far as the game is concerned saying that Africa is almost always the last to adopt a sport but end up surpassing people in other parts if the world and softball will not be an exception.
“By the special grace of God my word to them is that they should continue because I am also going to give them the videos so that they can learn. And with what I am going teach them here I believe by the time they will be going for the world championship in USA they are going to do much better. People are always afraid of people with disability in Africa. Over there they always fear us because they believe that whatever we start we always catch up quick even more than they who started the game” he noted
Wheelchair softball was born 30 years ago in the Midwest by a few individuals with spinal cord injuries and lower extremity impairments, who still wanted to enjoy America’s greatest pastime. These individuals needed to develop a way of playing without the full use of their legs that would allow easy maneuverability in a wheelchair and keep the fast pace of softball. Thus was born a new game played on hard surfaces, such as a parking lot, instead of the normal grassy infield, and a 16-inch softball, which allows wheelchair players to keep one hand one the wheelchair while catching a softball without a glove.
In 1976, the National Wheelchair Softball Association (NWSA) was founded and serves as the governing body for wheelchair softball in the United States. The game is played under the official rules of the 16-inch slow pitch softball as approved by the Amateur Softball Association of America with some exceptions geared toward the wheelchair user. Teams throughout America compete on a regular basis and hosts several tournaments throughout the summer. The NWSA hosts a national wheelchair softball tournament annually, which celebrated its 27th anniversary in St. Paul, Minnesota, this past August.
Today, NWSA governs over 30 teams nationwide. Many teams have sought and found allegiance and sponsorship with their Major League Baseball (MLB) team counterparts, such as the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies. All wear official MLB uniforms and compete with pride under their respective professional team’s logo. Wheelchair softball is an exciting and challenging summer sport that enables most wheelchair users to compete.
By Musah Abelyire/ghanaguardian.com
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