Baseball, Softball Associations Mourn Col. Friday Ichide

The Nigeria Baseball and Softball Association (NBSA), has described the death of retired Lt.-Col. Friday Ichide, the Executive Director, African Baseball and Softball Association (ABSA) as a colossal loss.

A statement by NBSA Secretary, Kehinde Laniyan, on Wednesday said that Ichide died when his services were most needed by the association.

The statement also said that his immense contribution to the development of the sport, especially in Nigeria was unquantifiable.

It said the deceased, who was also the former NBSA Technical Committee Chairman, was an astute sports administrator of great repute and would be missed in Nigeria and Africa.

It added that Ichide was among the few sports administrators that challenged the conventional way of managing sports in Nigeria.

“The sports community in Nigeria and Africa will miss him; the deceased was a great sports administrator whose wealth of knowledge helped to reshape baseball and softball.

“He was among the team that led baseball and softball into the All Africa Games and was a mentor who impacted his technical and administrative knowledge on individuals,’’ the statement said.

Ichide was among the pioneer members who ushered baseball and softball into the itinerary of the nation’s sports disciplines in 1989.

Other pioneer members include retired Gen. Ishola Williams, Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke and William Boyd among others.

The association, however, prayed for God’s guidance and for Him to grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

The late Ichide died aged 65, on April 20 in Minna, Niger State.

Meanwhile, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has also sent a condolence message to the NBSA and family of the deceased.

The message is contain in a statement by WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari.