YAOUNDE TIGERS BASEBALL CLUB

29 April 2008

AFRICA CONFEDERATION HOLDS FIRST MEETING
With International Softball Federation Secretary General Andy Loechner in attendance, the Softball Confederation of Africa recently held their first meeting. Formalized last October at the XXIII ISF Congress in Manila, the confederation will, among other initiatives, consolidate the development and competition structure and schedule for that continent.

The meeting concluded with the election of an executive board committee, headed by ISF VP/Africa Marumo Morule (Botswana) as the president, Guillo Marapjane (South Africa) as vice president, Mrs. Mabothobile Shebe (Lesotho) as secretary general, and ISF Executive Council Member At-Large Mrs. Fridah Shiroya (Kenya) as treasurer. Mr. Ibra Kadam (Senegal) is an additional member of the board.

Zambian Assistant Minister of Sports Richard Taima addressed the confederation delegates at the closing ceremony of the meetings.

The attendees of the Softball Confederation of Africa meeting.

MORE ACTIVITY AHEAD IN AFRICA
The Softball Confederation of Africa meeting having taking place in Lusaka is a reminder of softball being a part of the 10th All-Africa Games in 2011, which will take place in Zambia. Coincidentally, another major international competition for the sport will take place in Africa that same year. The IX Jr. Women’s World Championship (19-and-under, fast pitch) will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, three years from now.

NEW BOARD ELECTED
The Pan American Softball Confederation (CONPASA) held their Congress late last week in Valencia, Venezuela. A total of 23 countries were represented and the ISF president was also on-hand. Some championships were awarded and ISF 1st Vice President Clovis Lodewijks, still recovering from a medical condition and not expected to be active within CONPASA, was elected Honorary President. Also, a new Board of Directors was elected, including Venezuela’s Jesús Suniaga (President), Julio Hellburg of the Netherlands Antilles (1st Vice President), Argentina’s Enrique Alcaraz (VP/South America), El Salvador’s Julio Cesar Grijalva (VP/Central America), the Dominican Republic’s Alfredo Perez (VP/Caribbean), & Mexico’s Andres Montes Chavero (VP/North America) .

ISF President Don Porter (right) swears in the new CONPASA Board of Directors

While in that country Mr. Porter met in Caracas with the Minister of Sports for Venezuela Mrs. Victoria Mata, along with the vice president of the Olympic committee Elida Parraga de Alvarez, and the president, Eduardo Alvarez Camacho.  Discussions included the development of softball within the schools in Venezuela and that country's interest in hosting a new ISF Beach Softball World Cup.  Venezuela's women’s softball national team will participate in the Olympics in Beijing in August.

TWO MORE TEAMS SET FOR TOP ’09 MEN’S EVENT
The field is now two teams closer to being set for the ISF XII Men’s World Championship. The Oceania qualifier took place recently in North Harbour, New Zealand, where all the games were recorded for television using eight cameras. The host country defeated Australia, 5-0, to finish first, although both gained berths in the 2009 ISF event that will take place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Canada). The Aussies had defeated Papua New Guinea to advance to play New Zealand, who had earned a spot in the Grand Final with a victory over Guam .

The ISF XII Men’s World Championship will take place from July 17-26. New Zealand is the defending champion.