State of umpiring in baseball improves greatly

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For long, umpiring has always been a point of contention in the highly technical games of baseball and softball in Uganda.

However this gap could now soon fade out following registered improvements in the officiation of the games that opened the season calendar Saturday at Gayaza.

In the fall of last year, the Ugandan coaches and Umpires were shown the ropes by officials from World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC); Fabio Betto and Andrea D'auria and now it appears they learned quite a lot from the week long training camp.

"I can confidently report that there has been a huge improvement in the field of umpiring and this is a big leap forward in terms of improving and developing our game here," said George Mukhobe, UBASA Publicity Secretary.

Patrick Adiga has been spoken highly of as the main stand out in this area; his ability to interpret the game and objectiveness will surely take Ugandan baseball to another level.

Meanwhile, the national governing body UBASA is set to introduce Umpires' rating tools in a bid to further develop the game. The system would monitor the competence of umpires and by this they would identify their strengths and weaknesses and then act accordingly.

"We want to raise our game high up. There is need to wipe out mediocrity and have a proper game which can fit international standards" said Dennis Kasozi, President Uganda Baseball and Softball Association.

However, like any other sport in the country, the absence of professionalism is a perpetual reminder of how it is still a long way for baseball and softball to go!

None the less, there is need to commend UBASA for the latest developments that will also include introduction of T-ball soon.
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