Little League World Series (Middle East-Africa Region)
January 01, 1970
The Middle East–Africa Region was one of the eight "international" (non-U.S.) regions that participated in the Little League World Series from 2008 to 2012. The Arabian-American Little League in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia won each of the three MEA championships until 2011 when the Reverend John Foundation Little League from Kampala, Uganda won the tournament, however the team from Uganda was not able to participate after their visa applications to enter the United States were denied,[1] and Dhahran was invited to participate in their place.[2]
In 2012, a team from Lugazi, Uganda, won the tournament, to become the first African team to compete in the Little League World Series. Not all the players were able to make the trip, due to costs. Traditionally, the team practiced barefoot, but Little League World Series supporters provided the team with baseball cleats. Justine Makisimu had the first African base hit. As popular as this team became, they were not one of the top contenders in the Little League World Series. Uganda lost to Panama 9–3, and Mexico 12–0, eliminating them in two games. However, they beat Oregon, 3–2, in a consolation game.[3][4]
Prior to 2008, Middle Eastern and African teams competed in either the Europe/Middle East/Africa region (EMEA) or the Transatlantic region. The Transatlantic and EMEA regions were geographically identical. Leagues from the Transatlantic region generally consisted of children and other dependents of American expatriates, typically Armed Forces personnel, international organization members, and oil company workers (such as the team representing the Saudi Aramco Residential Camp in Dhahran). The leagues within the EMEA region consisted of players native to the league's own country. In practice, however, only European teams competed in the EMEA region, as no teams from the Middle East or Africa ever competed for the regional championship.
The region was disbanded following the 2012 LLWS due to a major reorganization triggered by Little League's announcement that Australia would receive an automatic berth beginning with the 2013 LLWS. As a result of this announcement:[5]
African countries will now be placed in the Europe Region, which will be renamed the Europe and Africa Region.
Middle Eastern countries will become part of the former Asia-Pacific Region, which will be renamed the Asia–Pacific and Middle East Region. Israel and Turkey, traditionally considered part of the Middle East, were not part of the MEA Region; they were in the former Europe Region because of their membership in the European zone of the International Baseball Federation. Those two countries will remain in the renamed Europe and Africa Region.
aKampala, Uganda won the regional championship in 2011, but did not participate in the Little League World Series when their visas to enter the United States were denied. Dhahran, Saudi Arabia was invited to participate in their place.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abCommunications Division (July 22, 2011). . Little League. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
^Communications Division. . Little League. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
^Kerber, Fred. "Big cheers, then defeat, for Uganda at LLWS". New York Post. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
^Armas, Genaro C. "Uganda Eliminated at Little League World Series". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
^ (Press release). Little League Baseball. August 29, 2012. Archived from the original on September 23, 2012. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
External linksedit
EMEA Homepage
January 01, 1970
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The Middle East Africa Region was one of the eight international non U S regions that participated in the Little League World Series from 2008 to 2012 The Arabian American Little League in Dhahran Saudi Arabia won each of the three MEA championships until 2011 when the Reverend John Foundation Little League from Kampala Uganda won the tournament however the team from Uganda was not able to participate after their visa applications to enter the United States were denied 1 and Dhahran was invited to participate in their place 2 In 2012 a team from Lugazi Uganda won the tournament to become the first African team to compete in the Little League World Series Not all the players were able to make the trip due to costs Traditionally the team practiced barefoot but Little League World Series supporters provided the team with baseball cleats Justine Makisimu had the first African base hit As popular as this team became they were not one of the top contenders in the Little League World Series Uganda lost to Panama 9 3 and Mexico 12 0 eliminating them in two games However they beat Oregon 3 2 in a consolation game 3 4 Prior to 2008 Middle Eastern and African teams competed in either the Europe Middle East Africa region EMEA or the Transatlantic region The Transatlantic and EMEA regions were geographically identical Leagues from the Transatlantic region generally consisted of children and other dependents of American expatriates typically Armed Forces personnel international organization members and oil company workers such as the team representing the Saudi Aramco Residential Camp in Dhahran The leagues within the EMEA region consisted of players native to the league s own country In practice however only European teams competed in the EMEA region as no teams from the Middle East or Africa ever competed for the regional championship The region was disbanded following the 2012 LLWS due to a major reorganization triggered by Little League s announcement that Australia would receive an automatic berth beginning with the 2013 LLWS As a result of this announcement 5 African countries will now be placed in the Europe Region which will be renamed the Europe and Africa Region Middle Eastern countries will become part of the former Asia Pacific Region which will be renamed the Asia Pacific and Middle East Region Israel and Turkey traditionally considered part of the Middle East were not part of the MEA Region they were in the former Europe Region because of their membership in the European zone of the International Baseball Federation Those two countries will remain in the renamed Europe and Africa Region Contents 1 Regional championship 2 LLWS results 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksRegional championship editThe list below lists each country s participant in the MEA Little League Region Tournament That year s winner is indicated in green Year nbsp Kuwait nbsp Saudi Arabia nbsp South Africa nbsp Uganda nbsp United Arab Emirates nbsp Qatar 2008 Kuwait LLKuwait Arabian American LLDhahran No representative Rev John Foundation LLKampala Dubai LLDubai No representative 2009 Kuwait LLKuwait Arabian American LLDhahran No representative No representative Dubai LLDubai No representative 2010 Kuwait LLKuwait Arabian American LLDhahran Cape Town LLCape Town Rev John Foundation LLKampala Dubai LLDubai No representative 2011 Kuwait LLKuwait Arabian American LLDhahran Kwa Zulu Natal BB Association LLDurban Rev John Foundation LLKampala a Dubai LLDubai No representative 2012 Kuwait LLKuwait Arabian American LLDhahran No representative Lugazi LLLugazi Dubai LLDubai Qatar LLDohaLLWS results editAs of the 2012 Little League World Series Year Champion City LLWS Record 2008 Arabian American LL nbsp Dhahran First Round 0 3 2009 Arabian American LL nbsp Dhahran First Round 1 2 2010 Arabian American LL nbsp Dhahran Pool C Fourth Place 0 3 2011 Arabian American LL a nbsp Dhahran Round 2 1 2 2012 Lugazi LL nbsp Lugazi Round 1 1 2Notes edita Kampala Uganda won the regional championship in 2011 but did not participate in the Little League World Series when their visas to enter the United States were denied Dhahran Saudi Arabia was invited to participate in their place 1 References edit a b Communications Division July 22 2011 Visa Applications Denied for Little League Team from Uganda Little League Archived from the original on October 12 2012 Retrieved July 30 2011 Communications Division Arabian American Little League of Dhahran Saudi Arabia to Receive Berth in Little League Baseball World Series Little League Archived from the original on October 12 2012 Retrieved August 2 2011 Kerber Fred Big cheers then defeat for Uganda at LLWS New York Post Retrieved 19 August 2012 Armas Genaro C Uganda Eliminated at Little League World Series The Globe and Mail Retrieved 19 August 2012 Regions Realigned for 2013 Australia to Play in Little League Baseball World Series Press release Little League Baseball August 29 2012 Archived from the original on September 23 2012 Retrieved September 17 2012 External links editEMEA Homepage Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Little League World Series Middle East Africa Region amp oldid 1162718642, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
