Bruce R. Wawrzyniak, director of communications at the International Softball Federation has refuted recent reports that The Gambia Softball Association was given USD$100,000 (one hundred thousand dollars) by the international softball body.

A two-time Olympic softball medalist, Jessica Mendoza, in a recent interview with NewsOK.com, which was also quoted in Observer Sports,  revealed that the Ms Beatrice Allen-led Gambia softball body was given a substantive amount of USD$100,000, which is equivalent to about D2,600,000 (two million six hundred thousand dalasis) to fund its national league competition.

However, the international softball body has quickly stepped up to deny the report. In a one-page electronic mail sent to the Observer Sports desk, the ISF official, Bruce Wawrzyniak, revealed that Jessica Mendoza, who is a key member in the battle to get softball back onto the Olympic program in 2016, incorrectly stated where the money was going to.

He said the USD$100,000 is meant for the whole region as was pledged by the president of the International Softball Federation, Don Porter, during the three-day Banjul softball forum in March 2009. The development fund, Bruce added, is a further proof of the ISF's vision to promote softball among young people across the continent.

Centre for softball
Speaking during the Banjul forum, which was attended by 12 African member countries, the Gambia Softball Association president, Beatrice Allen, said the Gambia will become the center for softball in Africa, adding that it is part of her role as a member of the International Olympic Committee to help develop sports in the country.

However, Ms Allen, who has since been drafted into the International Softball Federation executive committee, is yet to match her words with firm actions as there exist no softball clubs that will compete in the national league.