TWO members of the national baseball team, the Rising Stars, Paul K. Manoma and Joshua O. Amponsah led by Albert K. Frimpong, the national team captain, travelled to Japan last January 5 to take part in a trial test for the US major league team the Anaheim Angels.
The two players Paul and Joseph took part in the test and exhibited very excellent baseball skills to the admiration of all the Japanese present and especially the American scouts who surprisingly never knew there was baseball in Ghana.
Out of the over 120 participants, the two Ghanaian players were among the 24 players who passed the test, but since they were all on the same level the Americans couldn't pick anybody but instead decided to go back to America to decide on what to do or organise another one to be able to pick exceptionally good players.
The captain of the national team on his part went as a team manager and most importantly to meet with the managers of companies, team owners and influential Japanese to ask for funds to build a fitting baseball stadium in Ghana.
Indeed, all the people he spoke to were more than willing to help in that area and when they finally decide to send some money for the project, Ghana will quickly begin work.
Ghana has been promised a lot of assistance from the Japanese and it would not be too long for all to see what it is.
It is expected that the new sports minister would take a critical look at the so-called lesser sports to help develop such sports which are in their own small ways helping raise higher the flag of Ghana round the world.
The trip and trials were organised by the TRC sports management and the sponsors of the whole event were Asahi-Ryokuken (a very big beverage manufacturing company) and Decente, Resort Sports Senmongakko School (Baseball Academy). Finally over ?200 million was spent by these Japanese to get these Ghanaians to travel to participate in the trials.
They have since returned home.
