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"Dubai Little League was established about 20 years ago, and we have been playing at Al Qouz Pond Park for the last 15 years," says John Fekete, President of the Dubai Little League, who had volunteered to take over the position about four years ago but has been active in the league for seven years.
Some players from the Dubai Little League U15 Boys team (alongside the U18 Boys team) will participate in the Lake Oswego Firecracker 4th of July tournament in Oregon.Making of a global sport
The U.S.' national sport is now making its way towards internationalisation, following recent news that announced the Major League Baseball (MLB) seasonal games in London in June 2019. With a growing interest in baseball from expatriates and corporates, coupled with a progressive environment and enviable landscapes, the MLB is likely to expand into the Middle East.
To keep the spirit alive, the league has welcomed star players from Los Angeles Dodgers in partnership with Emirates airline to coach and further integrate an appreciation for teamwork, fair play, discipline and hard work over the years.
"Being a part of Dubai Little League has shaped me in a number of different ways. It has taught me the important skill of leadership and coaching. My experience has helped me grow as a player, coach, and as a person, as it has taught me many valuable skills that I will carry with me on and off the ball-field. It has also helped me to work with different groups of people and styles of coaching," says 14-year-old American Caylee Watters (pictured above), who has been playing softball since the age of six.
Summer games
Dubai Little League often hosts Baseball and Softball events, welcoming teams from Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to take part in tournaments. The Dubai team has showcased impressive skills on the field, topping Under-8, U14 and U18 baseball matches as well as the U14 and U18 softball games.
"I am currently in Oregon playing on an international team that would be playing against team across America. There are some players from Dubai that are playing with me, along with new teammates from Australia and Guam. The next part of our tour will take us from Los Angeles to all across the US, including Las Vegas, Denver, Nebraska, Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, NYC and New Jersey. We play every day pretty much for about seven to eight weeks. It's a great opportunity to play against and with other kids from different countries," he says.
An 18-year-old Hungarian-American Sean Fekete (pictured above), who has been making headlines as the UAE's very own baseball prodigy will also be part of the summer tournament.
"For me, baseball is just so relaxing and it helps me calm my nerves. You can always just go outside for a throw with your friends and have a good time. Playing in the UAE has been so much fun because it has helped me create so many close friendships for life," he says. Sean is set to attend Sacramento State University next year on a baseball scholarship.
- farhana@khaleejtimes.com
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