By OLANREWAJU AKOJEDE

Victoria Ekuniyi, a Baseball sensation, said she planned to become Nigeria’s multi-medal and first professional player to feature in the Williamson Tournament in the U.S.

Ekuniyi gave her plan for the future in Baseball while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the final match of the West Africa Little League tournament in Lagos.

NAN reports that Nigeria played host to an historic West Africa Little League tournament, first of its kind in Africa and Sub Saharan Africa.

The tournament which was kicked off on April 11 at the Igbobi College, was ended on April 15.

Ekuniyi, who started playing Baseball at 16 years, said Nigeria was lucky to have had the West Africa Little League tournament hosted in Lagos.

“We did not have same opportunity to have the qualifiers for Little League tournament, which automatically means that the winners here would attend the European series.

“As a Baseball player, I am happy that Nigeria is eventually getting the recognition needed in Baseball/Softball game.

“For someone like me, Baseball is a passion and I want to make a statement out of the game,” she said.

Ekuniyi expressed the hope that her passion for the game would eventually open the needed opportunity to play at the highest level of the game which is a professional career in the U.S.

“I started playing Baseball at the age of 16 years and I have had the opportunity to travel to many states in Nigeria, it has been fun all through.

“I finished my Senior School Certificate in 2017 as a sports person and I am looking forward to a bright and rewarding future, playing baseball.

“For me, I want to play at the highest level of the sport, traveling around the world; obviously, I have a dream to play at the Williams Tournament in the U.S., I think that is everyone’s dream.

“The Baseball/Softball tournament here in Nigeria will expose us more to the fundamentals and rudiments in the game,” she said.

Ekuniyi added that though Baseball/Softball was not so popular in Nigeria yet, there were many untapped potentials of the game that abound in the grassroots.

“I believe we have the players, we only need coaches that will fine tune them and make them better.

“I am a member of Oyo State Baseball/Softball team where I am still playing till now before the opportunity to be one of the officials at the little League tournament.

“I also have the opportunity to feature Bayelsa at the last National Sports Festival (NSF),” she said. (NAN)