Today is the last day in Ghana, and we started meeting with BGF staff in "LANDING RESTAURANT", near Ghana airport.
And finally, we reached to an agreement with BGF. From left to right, Keikei, Parker, Tomonari.
We really appreciate for our visit in Ghana : Nagase Kenko, Japan Foundation, BGF staff, Ghanian Government, and JICA. We really hope our visit will contribute to the future of kids, or to Ghanian baseball, and finally, to African baseball.
On Saturday, 10a.m., we were in Tema City, 18.5 miles east from Accra. We are going to select women softball players to take to Japan. Team "FUKUJUSO", the strong woman softball team in Gifu prefecture, has a plan to invite some of African women softball players.
Softball players are playing catch.
Tomonari scores them up.
BGM staff is recording this selection to the video.
Rebecca, an athletic player, is quite a fast runner. Yes, she has one of the "5 TOOLS OF BASEBALL"...RUNNING!
Tomonari starts teaching the fielding.
Fungo still continues.
Salome, is really a good hitter, with power and skill.
Salome hit Shibata's ball strongly.
On the other hand, kids started playing hand-hitball.
And we gave baseball equipments from Miyazaki or Narashino, to them.
At night, we talked about spreading hand-hitball with Mr.Aryeh, again.
This day, February 10th, 2006, is a memorial day for baseball. The first hand-hitball tournament in African Continent in baseball history, is going to be held.
All the AFAB members woke up at 5 a.m., and attended to the pupular Ghanian morning TV program, "BREAKFAST SHOW". The mc of this program asked, "Is this game possible for females to play?", and Kagawa answered, "I did, and females also can play softball while males play baseball." Okay, that's a perfect answer, Kagawa, you did a really good job! Your comment was quite a great appeal of our activities!
Then we moved to Association International Elementary School, to wait for the teams to join this tournament. Each three elementary schools, Jahoshure Elementary School, Langoon Camp Elementary School, and the host, Association International Elementary School, formed two teams, and six teams were going to join this tournament. Teams consists of 7 members with 2 girls, each.
In the morning, 8 a.m., the staff started setting the tent area to keep the audience from strong sunlight.
AFAB staff is writing the tournament details in the paper.
Shibata and Sugimura putting the coloured wrist on each players.
Okay, it's time to start the game!
The girl entered the batter's box.(Umpire:Yamagichi, behind the catcher.)
The girl hit the ball strongly with her hand.
So many audiences with enthusiasm.(Umpire:Shibata, behind the catcher.)
The audience delighted with their plays, and cheered the players, with clapping hands.
The staff tries to cool the audience down.
The score is tied, and the audience began to heat up.
"It's amazing, I've never seen, so many students showed such an enthusiasm!" one of the teacher said to us.
The audience is still growing,
and growing.
"Wow, I cannot believe so many students are concentrated on this hand-hitball game!", Tomonari said.
Yes, Tomonari is right, there are also so many students on the other side of this ground.
Behind the home plate, catcher, or an umpire...so many students, and somebody started to bang a drum!
The game is over. There were 8 match-ups, this day, until then.
Only the final game is left!
The BGF Cup for the winner.
Mr.Dench, from Langoon Camp Elementary School, is on the seat as a commentator.
Players are on the game.
And finally, Jahoshure A team has won the game! Congratulations, and you are the champion of this tournament!
The ending ceremony is going to start.
Students are waiting.
Keikei showed the greetings to the players, and gave them the prize for joining this tournament.
Tomonari gave the AFAB T-shirt to all the champion team players.
The captain of champion team raised the BGF CUP with his hands, and showed the delight for winning this tournament.
All the players of champion team joined the captain.
Tomonari signed for the students. "Wow, I feel like a hero of the Olympic baseball team."
We finally did it!
The certificate for joining this tournament.
All the teachers and AFAB staff. We gave each of them 2 balls and the pump to put the air in them. We hope, all of you spread this hand-hitball all over Ghana!
This day, in the afternoon, we went to Ghanian Ministry of Education and Sports.
From left to right, Kosuda, Nana, and Parker, in formal suits, walking through the Ministry area.
We are invited to the guest room. From left to right, Kosuda, Tomonari, KeiKei, secretary, Mr.Aryeh, Ghana National Sports Council chairman, vice minister of Ghanian Ministry of Education and Sports. Tomonari, Kosuda, Parker and Keikei explained about the significance of hand-hitball. On the other hand, vice minister and Mr.Aryeh expressed us to investigate the plan for popularising hand-hitball, and they showed the apprerciation for our long-time contribute to the Ghanian baseball.
After the meeting, vice minister showed his appreciation to us again.
All the attendees of this meeting.
The 3rd day...at first, we went to Langoon Camp Elementary School.
AFAB members and GBF members went together to the classroom.(Tomonari said hello to the students.)
After Sugimura gave hand-hitball rule paper to the students, he started to explain about this game.
All the students listen to Sugimura's explanation with strong enthusiasm.
Then students went out the classroom, changed clothes, and gathered to the ground. Yamaguchi started the explanation.
The girl tried to hit the ball strongly with her hand.
Yamaguchi gave suggestions to the students.
Paul Manoma, GBF coach, suggested the way to hit the ball to the students.
The boy hit the ball, and start running towards the first base.
Students didn't change clothes, were looking other students to play, with enthusiasm.
Okay, the "HOMERUN-BALL" is coming!
Finally, all the students played hand-hitball, enjoyed this game all day long.
At first, we went to the Ghanian Baseball Federation office, to explain about the importance of hand-hitball, and discussed over this topic.(from left to right, Nana, Sugimura[AFAB Zambia Chief Officer], Kosuda[AFAB Chief Operation Officer], Tomonari[AFAB Chief Executive Officer], Mr.Abrahim[Ghanian Baseball Federation Chairman])
All the attendees are attracteded on the hand-hitball dvd.
Then we visited JICA(Japan International Cooperation Agency) Ghanian office, and explained about the importance of introducing and popularising of hand-hitball again.
In the evening, we visited Jahoshure Elementary School with Ghanian Baseball Federation members, to introduce hand-hitball for the kids.(Shibata started the explanation.)
At first, we just started the game.
Ghanian baseball coaches explained kids how to play, hand by hand.
All kids played hand-hitball.
