African Baseball & Softball Association
| Abbreviation | ABSA |
|---|---|
| Type | International sport federation |
| Purpose | Sport governing body |
| Headquarters | Minna, Nigeria |
|
Region served
|
Africa |
|
Membership
|
24 |
|
Official language
|
English |
|
President
|
Ishola Williams |
|
Parent organization
|
World Baseball Softball Confederation |
The African Baseball and Softball Association (ABSA), is the governing body of baseball and softball within Africa. As of June 2011, there are 24 members.
The confederation is responsible for operation of Baseball at the All-Africa Games.
The Africa Baseball and Softball Association (ABSA) was formed on June 8, 1990 in Lagos, Nigeria. The founding countries, 9 in number were Angola, Botswana, Ghana, Lesotho, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Executive Committee unanimously appointed at the inaugural meeting included Mr. Malcolm Burne (Zimbabwe) as President, Mr. Russell Bartlett (Namibia) as 1st Vice President, Mr. Ray Pitcher (Zambia) as 2nd Vice President, Brigadier Ishola Williams (Nigeria) as Secretary General, Lieutenant Colonel L Gwadabe (Nigeria) as Assistant Secretary General and Dr. (Mrs.) Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke (Nigeria) as Treasurer. The Executive Director of the International Baseball Association (IBA), Mr. David Osinski was present at the inaugural meeting. The meeting was declared open by the then Minister of Sports of Nigeria, late Air Commodore Anthony Ikhazoboh. The 1st ABSA Congress was organised in 1992 in Harare, Zimbabwe. Thereafter 6 Congresses have been held with the 2nd held in 1993 in Cape Town, South Africa, the 3rd in 1994 in Johannesburg, South Africa, the 4th in 1995 in Harare, Zimbabwe, the 5th in 1996 in Lagos, Nigeria at which a new Executive Committee was elected to replace the appointed one.
This Executive Committee comprised Major General Ishola Williams (Nigeria) as President, Mr. Ray Pitcher (Zambia) as Vice President Baseball, Mr. Matthews Kutumela (South Africa) as Vice President Softball, Mr. Etienne N’Guessan (Côte d'Ivoire) as Secretary General and Ms. Fridah Shiroya (Kenya) as Treasurer.
Also in 1996, responsibility for the promotion and development of the games was devolved to Zones and Zonal Coordinators were appointed as follows: Zonal Chairman North Africa Zone – Mohammed Ben Guiza (Tunisia), Zonal Chairman East and Central Africa Zone – Solomon Gacece (Kenya), Zonal Coordinator West Africa Zone – Dr. (Mrs.) Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke (Nigeria) and Zonal Chairman Southern Africa Zone – Edwin Bennett.
The 6th Congress was held in 2001 in Minna, Nigeria at which Mrs. Françoise Kameni Lele (Cameroon) was elected Treasurer and the 7th Congress in 2006 in Nairobi, Kenya. At the 7th Congress, Major General Ishola Williams was confirmed as President, Fridah Shiroya was elected Vice President Softball, Mrs. Mabothobile Shebe (Lesotho) was elected Secretary General.
The 1st Africa Cup Baseball Championship was organised in 1992 in Harare, Zimbabwe with only 4 countries participating with the final standings as follows: South Africa – 1st, Zimbabwe – 2nd, Nigeria – 3rd and Zambia – 4th. The 2nd Africa Cup Baseball Championship in 1993 in Cape Town, South Africa, the 3rd Africa Cup Baseball Championship in 1995 in Harare, Zimbabwe, the 4th Africa Cup Championship in 2001 in Kampala, Uganda. The first time Baseball featured in the All-Africa Games was in 1999 in the 7th All-Africa Games in South Africa and the second time was in 2003 in the 8th All-Africa Games in Nigeria.
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