Baseball pitches new goal

CBAF President and founder Joe Cook says he is keen as ever to help further Cambodian baseball. Photo Supply

via CAAI

Tuesday, 21 December 2010 15:00 H S Manjunath

Cambodian baseball is all fired up to touch new bases as the cobwebs of uncertainty are cleared away and the new ball park at Kampong Thom gets set for a long season ahead. The Cambodian Baseball Federation, or CBAF, have launched their plan for a grand revival of the sport in the Kingdom with a target of taking part in the 2011 SEA Games tournament.

After months of inactivity marked by administrative difficulties, a minor player revolt and severe financial strain bordering on total collapse, baseball is slowly being restored to its heady days of the past. CBAF president Joe Cook, the man who brought the American staple to Cambodia in 2002, is hoping all his wishes are answered this time.

The Joe Cook story is well publicised in the world of baseball, including his escape to freedom in the US as a 12-year-old from his war-torn homeland, and his adulthood passion to bring baseball to the Kingdom, forcing him to take on two jobs as a cook in Alabama.

On one hand, his relentless pursuit of his ambition earned him adulation, but on the other his highly individualistic style of functioning made him a sitting duck for his detractors. While he poured his time, energy and often his own resources to raise the country’s baseball profile by sending the national team to international events, he faced a fierce media backlash when the administration was hit by a severe financial crisis.

The Cambodian National Baseball team pose for a photo at their newly completed training ground in Balaingk district, Kampong Thom province. The team is getting ready to play at the SEA Games next year. Photo Supply

The situation was aggravated by the desertion of players over pay and conditions and a blaze of negative publicity and harsh accusations aimed at Cook brought about a trust deficit, which lead to the federation falling into suspended animation.

It was a terrible phase both for Cook personally and for Cambodian baseball. While admitting to some of his failings, Cook steadfastly defended his integrity and quickly began building up his dream once again.

“The worst is behind me and I am as gritty as ever to see baseball activity resume in Cambodia,” said Cook in an email to the Post.

The heart and soul of the CBAF plan is participation in the 26th SEA Games, which will be held in Jakarta and Palembang from November 11-26 next year. According to the federation, no stone will be left unturned in its effort to make this happen, but they are also well aware it will be much harder to achieve than it sounds.

As a first hurdle, the CBAF has to convince the parent national sporting body, the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, on its commitment and capability to field a decent team. A meeting between CBAF representatives and NOCC Secretary General Vath Chamroeun has been fixed for December 27 in what both sides describe as a positive step forward.

For his part, Cook is adamant in his assertions that he will succeed in sending the team to Indonesia and is confident of raising the necessary funds. He says he is more than happy to discuss procedural requirements with both the NOCC and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports while soliciting the support from the two government bodies.

“We missed out on the Asian Games [in Guangzhou in November this year], and we do not want to miss SEA Games at any cost,” said Cook.

Meanwhile, a recruitment spree has been set in motion to enroll talented players into the national team. Cook expects a core of about 50-60 players in place within the next few months.

Reputed Japanese baseball coach Sato Takayuki is now in charge of a relatively raw and inexperienced bunch of youngsters who have found a new love for the American sport but are far from ready for big time competition. Some old-timers have rejoined the team, but overall it is predominantly new blood as Cook and the CBAF herald a new beginning.

As many as 168 days of intense training have been planned for the team with dozens of practice matches slated along the way.

The CBAF is now on the look out for major sponsors. Cook, as always, is busy working his sources and contacts on the personal front in the US to raise as much funds as he can to infuse new life into Cambodia’s young sporting population.

“Everything is in place and the training sessions are going smoothly at Kampong Thom. We hope to recruit more and more players and ensure that they are looked after well,” said Chea Theary, Cook’s niece and General Secretary of the CBAF.

“The equipment we have is adequate for the time being, but we hope to get more in the months to come. We are looking forward to an exciting season.”

NOCC official Vath Chamroeun, meanwhile, is cautiously optimistic about the federation’s revival. Despite feeling it was too early to take a stand on the national team’s participation at the SEA Games, he noted the NOCC were more than happy to see the resumption of baseball.