By Monica Iheakam
Nigeria Wheelchair Softball President, Sunday Odior is cautiously brimming with confidence about the giant strides his association is making in positioning Nigeria to the world stage in the sport.
Odior, who spoke during an international friendly match between Nigeria Wheelchair Softball team and their Ghanaian counterparts, urged Nigerians and corporate bodies to embrace para sports in the nation, particularly wheelchair softball.
He added that with over 20 million people living with disability in Nigeria, para-sports have received less or no attention from government, corporate, and individual sponsorship, unlike other countries where the sports get full support.
“It is a massive achievement to bring the Ghana Wheelchair Softball team here in Nigeria. The expenses and the impact this international friendly is bringing to the sport in Nigeria is worth the sacrifices. “It feels good, it feels nice to organize such an international tournament and we hope for more attention and exposure in terms of sponsorships and media coverage to bring the sport to millions of Nigerians. “This is the first pitch in Africa where the game is played in such a standard pitch with the match streamed live and I have been receiving congratulatory messages from Presidents of Wheelchair Softball associations from all over the world.
Meanwhile, the age long rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana was rekindled in an atmosphere of sporting ambiance at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos over the weekend. At the end of a 5 innings International friendly match, Ghana defeated Nigeria by 4runs to 3runs.
The Nigerian side started off strongly but the Ghanaians came from 3runs down to overturn the score sheet and snatch victory from Nigeria at the home turf.
The game, which is part of preparations for the World Wheelchair Championship scheduled for the United States later in August, was a return fixture between Nigeria and Ghana after the first game held in Accra last year.
Prior to the game, the Nigeria Wheelchair Softball Association had received donations of Wheelchairs from the International Wheelchair Federation to support the team’s preparations for the World Wheelchair Championship in the United States.