The WBSC donated equipment to support baseball and softball development in Zambia ©WBSC

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has donated baseball and softball equipment to 15 different groups in Zambia, aiming to boost the games' popularity before the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.

The Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) Zambia, a sports development facility in capital Lusaka, was the first entity to receive the equipment, including a dozen Baseball5 balls, baseball and softball bats and uniforms, via the Zambia Baseball and Softball Association.

Distribution is set to continue at the University of Zambia in Lusaka, Copperbelt University, Chindwin Barracks secondary schools, the Chirundu Leopards club in Lusaka, Lutembwe secondary school, Precision Sport, Family Legacy, Restoration Ministries, UCZ, Senanga Baseball, Serenje, Chimwemwe, OlympAfrica and Mumana primary school.

The purpose of the donation is to not only introduce Baseball5 - plus softball and baseball - to the Zambian sports community, but also to prepare athletes who could represent the country in Baseball5 at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics.

Introduced to Zambia in February 2019, Baseball5 will be featured at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, the first International Olympic Committee Games to be held in Africa.

An introductory event for Baseball5 was held at OYDC Zambia last month to encourage young people to practice the sport ©NOCZ
An introductory event for Baseball5 was held at OYDC Zambia last month to encourage young people to practice the sport ©NOCZ

Baseball5 is also on the programme for the 2023 African Beach Games in Tunisia.

It is a pitcher-free discipline which requires only a rubber ball to play and no bat, so is designed to bring baseball to previously inaccessible areas.

According to Zambia Baseball and Softball Association secretary general Kenny Matishi, involving the OYDC Zambia in particular may help accelerate development. 

"A good number of kids visit the centre," said Matishi. 

"Hopefully, our sport will attract them."