2008年1月11日金曜日

2006-02-12 Introducing Hand-Hitball Activities in Ghana : Last Day

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.

2006-02-11 Introducing Hand-Hitball Activities in Ghana : 6th Day

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.

2008年1月9日水曜日

2006-02-10 Introducing Hand-Hitball Activities in Ghana : 5th Day

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!