South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
The South Sudan Baseball and Softball Association (SSBSA) has achieved a historic milestone by officially becoming a member of the World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC). WBSC is the global governing body for baseball, softball, and Baseball5, representing 191 (184 full members, 7 provisional members) national federations and 15 associated members in 141 countries and territories across Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania.
The formal affiliation was confirmed during the 6th WBSC Congress held in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday, October 18, 2025, which was attended by Mr. Peter Daniel Deng, Secretary General of SSBSA. This landmark event signifies South Sudan’s official entry into the global baseball and softball community, paving the way for international participation, technical exchange, and enhanced player development.
This achievement follows SSBSA’s recent national recognitions by the Ministry of Youth and Sports on July 21, 2025, and the South Sudan National Olympic Committee (SSNOC) on August 25, 2025—milestones that formally integrated baseball and softball into South Sudan’s national sports framework.
Speaking on the development, Mr. Peter Daniel Deng, Secretary General of SSBSA, described the affiliation as “a turning point for South Sudanese baseball and softball,” adding that it will “open opportunities for athletes, coaches, and officials to participate in international competitions and gain access to the WBSC’s global development programmes.”
BACKGROUND OF SSBSA
The South Sudan Baseball and Softball Association (SSBSA) was established in 2019 by Mr. Peter Daniel Deng, a former South Sudanese baseball player, and Mr. Shinya Tomonari, the former Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) South Sudan Office. Their shared vision was to introduce and develop baseball and softball across South Sudan by teaching values such as discipline, respect, and justice. What began as a small grassroots initiative in Juba has since evolved into a national movement dedicated to promoting sportsmanship, teamwork, and peace among South Sudanese youth through sport.
Since its founding, SSBSA has successfully implemented programmes such as the “Together IV Baseball and Softball” Grassroots Programme, which introduces the game to schools, and the South Sudan Baseball and Softball Independence Cup, a high school national tournament that celebrates unity through sport.
The Association has also facilitated the participation of South Sudanese athletes in regional tournaments, including the Tanzania Koshien Tournament and the Jackie Robinson Tournament in Uganda. Notably, with the support and partnership of the Japan Africa Baseball and Softball Foundation (J-ABS)—an organisation led by Mr. Shinya Tomonari and based in Japan—SSBSA successfully organised a crowdfunding campaign in Japan to support South Sudan’s participation in the 10th Tanzania Baseball Tournament in December 2022. With this assistance, the South Sudan team made an impressive showing, winning all their games with a perfect record of 5–0 during the tournament and achieving a remarkable victory over the Tanzanian National Baseball Team with a score of 21–8 in favour of South Sudan.
A defining milestone for SSBSA came when Joseph Deng made history by becoming the first South Sudanese player to be signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in November 2024—one of the most successful and prestigious teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). This achievement marked South Sudan’s official entry into the global baseball development pathway. Deng continues his training and development at the LA Dodgers Baseball Academy in the Dominican Republic, representing a beacon of inspiration for aspiring baseball players across South Sudan.
LOOKING AHEAD
With WBSC affiliation now complete, SSBSA is preparing to expand its development programmes, strengthen its grassroots network, and launch the first-ever national baseball and softball league in 2026. The Association has also assembled national teams across all categories—U12, U15, U18, U23, and Senior—as part of its long-term competitive structure.
In December 2025, South Sudan will send its U15 national team to Nairobi, Kenya to participate in the WBSC U15 Continental World Cup Qualifiers. This will be followed in February 2026 by the Senior National Team’s participation in the WBSC Africa Continental Olympic Qualifiers in South Africa, marking an important step toward qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
According to Mr. William Warun, Deputy Secretary General and Technical Director of SSBSA, “These upcoming tournaments reflect the progress our young federation has made and the potential of South Sudanese athletes to compete at international levels. Our WBSC membership gives us the credibility and support needed to achieve even greater heights.”
