Kwara softball team yesterday, Saturday July 19, 2025, emerged winners of the third edition of MoniMak Global Softball Championship, after defeating their Ondo counterparts 8-4 runs.
The 3-day Championship held at the Kwara State Baseball Park, Adewole, Ilorin.
The Kwara team had earlier garnered nine points from four games, in the Double Round Robin format preliminaries against Ondo and Osun states, chalking 31 runs for, and 20 against.
Ondo on the other hand, emerged from the group stage with six points, with 23 runs for and 20 runs against, while Osun got only three points and a deficit of 15 runs.
The Executive Chairman of the State Sports Commission, Mallam Bola Magaji, who led other dignitaries to the final commended the sponsor, Mrs Monisola Yemisi Makanjuola for creating the platform for the discovery of new talents in the sport.
Mallam Magaji pledged his support towards the organisation of the 4th edition, even as he promised to reward individual brilliance and performance. He commended Ondo and Osun for promoting youth participation in sports.
The Vice President of the Nigeria Baseball and Softball Association (NBSA), Victor Achakpo expressed delight with the competition, which he says, raised hopes ahead of the next National Youth Games in Asaba in 2026.
He however, charged that targeted states be given enough notice ahead of competitions, to encourage more participation. He equally called on authorities to assist the development of the sport.
“The NBSA will continue to provide the necessary support towards the growth of the game, and efforts are on to get NBSA Federated. With that, we will chart new courses.
Alhaji Bode Durotoye described the competition as a good development for baseball and softball, even as he commended the stakeholders for putting behind them the crisis which had earlier slowed down the growth of the sport in the state.
“We thank God that the crisis which had been hampering the development of the game in the state is over. The state has the facilities and wherewithal to champion total revival of the sport, as you can see from this Championship”, he said.
The Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mallam AbdulAmid Dúró Sanni described the Championship as a fantastic and massive outing.
“I am impressed by the performance of the athletes, especially the younger ones. It was a massive outing, and the sponsor, Mrs. Makanjuola needs encouragement on all fronts, for putting resources together for this”, he averred..
The sponsor, Mrs. Makanjuola expressed happiness for the success of the Championship, adding that new talents that emerged showed that there is indeed, future for softball.
“We will keep trying our best. The new talents discovered here clearly shown that there is future for the game. We will be looking forward to the 4th edition, and hoping that it will be more elaborate than this.
As a way of discovering more talents in the state, Mrs Makanjuola said that efforts are on to open a few weeks camping in Ilorin, for softball players, in preparation for future engagements.
The individual award winners are Iyabo Yusuf (Best Pitcher), Lateefat Mohammed (Best Infielder), Muinat Abdulganiyu (Best Outfielder), all from Kwara, and Ifeoluwa Kayode (Best Catcher), from Ondo.
Babe Ruth, led by Dr. James Asagunla also rewarded individual brilliance with kits. They are: Bilkis Ali (Best Batter), Lateefat Mohammed (Best Shot Stop), both of Kwara, and Ondo state’s Olusayo TireniOluwa (First Base).
Among the award recipients for their contributions to the development of the sport are Mallam Bola Magaji, Chief Godwin Anaekwe, Mallam AbdulAmid Dúró Sanni, Coach Toba Alegbe, Oloyin Bolaji Lateef, Mallam Ibrahim Bako, Hameed Adio, Mallam Sulaiman Cellular of SULAK Investment and Daniel Francis, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Blessed Osmosis Enterprises, among others.
