IN a landmark moment for African baseball and softball, former pitcher and business executive Uche Odozor has been elected President of WBSC Africa, signalling a new chapter of ambition and innovation for the sports across the continent.
Mashilo Matsetela, the former player and leading administrator who has led to growth of softball in South Africa, was elected as Odozor’s deputy.
The election took place during the WBSC Africa Congress at the Grand Fourwings Hotel in Bangkok on the eve of the global WBSC Congress, where continental delegates gathered to chart the future of baseball and softball in Africa for the next four years.
Odozor brings a unique blend of athletic pedigree and business acumen to the role. His playing career saw him take the mound for the Stallions Baseball Club in Lagos and the Randburg Mets in Johannesburg, before founding the Diplomatic Dodgers Baseball and Softball Club in Abuja – a testament to his commitment to grassroots development.
Now, as CEO of Aviation Support Services and The Diplomatic Village, the economics graduate and former financial consultant has built an impressive track record in business leadership, having worked with premier institutions including Old Mutual South Africa, Standard Bank, and Nedbank.
A Continental Team Ready for Growth
The Congress also assembled a diverse and experienced eight-member Executive Board designed to accelerate the sports’ development across Africa’s varied regions.
Luiz Nunes of Cape Verde was elected Secretary General, while South Africa secured both Vice President positions: Marc Moreau for baseball and Mashilo Matsetela for softball.
The baseball Members at Large will be Zerbo Dramane from Burkina Faso and Edmund Kwesi-Ackom from Ghana, with Botswana’s Katiholo Mosimanegape and the Ivory Coast’s Linda Carole Yadi Dehoule serving in the same capacity for softball.
In a significant development for African representation on the world stage, the Congress elected two Continental Representatives to the WBSC Executive Board: Tunisia’s Saber Jlajla for baseball and Botswana’s Tirelo Mukokomani for softball.
“Africa Needs Selfless Leaders”
Matsetela captured the mood of determination and responsibility that defined the elections.
“I am elated that the continent saw it fit that I can be a Vice President of World Baseball Softball Confederation,” Matsetela said. “I really value the confidence that they have shown in me. I hereby declare that I will do the best of my ability to serve the African continent. Africa needs selfless leaders to progress and be competitive with other continents.”
With a four-year term ahead, the new leadership faces the challenge of expanding infrastructure, developing talent pipelines, and raising the profile of baseball and softball across a continent rich with untapped athletic potential.
For Odozor and his team, the mission is clear: transform Africa into a competitive force in global baseball and softball, one pitch, one swing, and one community at a time.
