While Baseball is America’s pastime and growing in popularity in other countries around the world, some spots around the globe find themselves unfamiliar with the century and a half old sport. Harmony Baseball Academy is teaching and developing youth about the game and introducing it to communities in forgotten places.
Throughout baseball’s long history, the game has seen many faces and cultures pass through its epic journey. It has seen racial and cultural barriers broken from players in the past that fell in love with the game and made it their goal to play professionally. One of those players, Gift Ngoepe, helped pave the way for players coming from continental Africa, as he was the first player from the region to debut in the MLB back in 2017. In his first season, he slashed .222/.323/.296 for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Still continuing his journey through the league and back to the major leagues, Ngoepe’s story is historic, opening pathways for new beginnings; like the opportunity provided by a baseball academy establishing itself in Ngoepe’s home continent: Africa.
A New Beginning
In Cameroon, Africa, Harmony Baseball Academy is teaching youngsters about the game all while attempting to invoke a new passion and livelihood within the kids. Arsel Giowou, president as well as a coach for Harmony, has huge goals for the academy as he tries to spread the love of baseball to the area:
“What prompted me to start my academy was the unfamiliarity with baseball here. A lot of Cameroonians don’t even know baseball and I, as a youngster, thought it would be great to promote what you love.”
Giowou started playing and learning the sport when he was eight years old. Right from the beginning, a fire sparked, igniting a torch filled with energy and passion to bring the game he now loved to those without the chance of an experience.
The first challenge in fulfilling his calling? Providing a basic introduction to the unknown.
“Starting the academy, I had a lot of challenges which were lack of equipment, lack of children and lack of space. I was able to overcome it all by a determination, a hope and by the goals I set for myself.”
An Uphill Battle
While interest in the academy continues to grow, Giowou and other coaches still face critical hurdles: providing suitable equipment and finding a proper, sizable and safe environment to practice and play the game. As for now, they’re relying upon handmade and sewn gloves and balls to make ends meet. While nothing quite matches the feeling of a brand new officially licensed Rawlings ball, or the stiffness of a fresh leather first baseman’s glove, playing baseball is all that matters right now.
And despite the challenges facing the academy now and ones that may arise in the future, Giowou keeps his head high, marching on with plans ahead to provide for the new students of the craft.
“The short-term objective is already good because we already have a little material which allows us to train the children. A lot of stuff will always be welcome as it will help us spread the game to other communities and educate children in other cities as well.”
What Comes Next?
Giowou’s long-term goal? Building a baseball field in Cameroon, giving the rookies a sense of pride for the diamond they play on, and creating a bond between the academy’s attendees and the game he brought home. While the goal still lies far down the road, nothing can stop Giowou’s pursuit of achievement. Raising funds and awareness for his project is the new name of the game, and based on the character running the show, the odds are in his favor.
Africa’s lack of structuralized baseball leaves it behind the developmental curve in comparison to other continents, but better late than never applies well to the situation. Sending a national team to the 1974 Amateur World Series remains a top highlight as it pertains to the sport for the continent. Now Harmony Baseball Academy’s goals aim to refresh the regions highlight reel, create lifelong skills, relationships and bonds with the sport and continue to stir the ever-evolving melting pot of a world pastime.
If anyone would like to donate to Harmony Baseball Academy’s goal of building their own stadium. You can help them HERE.