Fiji Baseball and Softball receives playing gear

THE Fiji Islands Baseball and Softball Association (FIBSA) has received a timely gift from the Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).

FIBSA in a statement said they were awarded a continental equipment which Fiji had submitted an application for in 2020.

After 20 years of development work through their community youth initiative, FIBSA is now showing a lot of positive feedback from WBSC and other stakeholders with these continental equipment worth $5000.

The equipment arrived in Fiji this week with the assistance of relevant authorities as Fiji Baseball applied for duty concession which was approved months before the consignment arrived into the country.

Secretary general, Inoke Niubalavu said years of hard work was paying off and the timely arrival of the equipment would boost the Fiji men’s baseball team preparation to the Pacific Mini Games in Northern Marianas (Saipan) in July, 2022.

The gift consists of 135 gloves, 24 softball bats, 30 baseball bats, 24 helmets, 12 sets catcher gear and 18 gear bags.

The World Baseball Softball Confederation is looking to boost global development and capture the wave of momentum from baseball and softball’s successful showing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

A massive distribution of baseball and softball equipment to continental bodies, including baseball5 balls in Africa, and for the first time Fiji will be responsible of the southern continent as part of the world governing body’s development plan to accelerate the globalization of the game, particularly following baseball and softball’s successful showing at the recent Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The equipment includes for all four continents are 4020 baseball5 balls, 2400 baseballs, 1520 softballs, 1114 gloves, 410 bats, 469 complete uniforms, 162 batting helmets, 72 catcher gear and 78 gear bags.

Each continental governing body will then report to the WBSC Development Commission about the distributions to the national federations where WBSC intends to monitor the way this equipment [is being/will be] used.