Little League World Series (Middle East-Africa Region)

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.

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:[3]

Regional championship

The list below lists each country's participant in the MEA Little League Region Tournament. That year's winner is indicated in green.

Year
Kuwait
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
2008 Kuwait LL
Kuwait		 Arabian American LL
Dhahran		 No representative Rev. John Foundation LL
Kampala		 Dubai LL
Dubai		 No representative
2009 Kuwait LL
Kuwait		 Arabian American LL
Dhahran		 No representative No representative Dubai LL
Dubai		 No representative
2010 Kuwait LL
Kuwait		 Arabian American LL
Dhahran		 Cape Town LL
Cape Town		 Rev. John Foundation LL
Kampala		 Dubai LL
Dubai		 No representative
2011 Kuwait LL
Kuwait		 Arabian American LL
Dhahran		 Kwa Zulu Natal BB Association LL
Durban		 Rev. John Foundation LL
Kampala[a]		 Dubai LL
Dubai		 No representative
2012 Kuwait LL
Kuwait		 Arabian American LL
Dhahran		 No representative Lugazi LL
Lugazi		 Dubai LL
Dubai		 Qatar LL
Doha

LLWS results

As of the 2012 Little League World Series.

YearChampionCityLLWSRecord
2008Arabian American LL DhahranFirst Round0–3
2009Arabian American LL DhahranFirst Round1–2
2010Arabian American LL DhahranPool C Fourth Place0–3
2011Arabian American LL[a] DhahranRound 21–2
2012Lugazi LL LugaziRound 11–2

Notes

Lugazi, Uganda, won the regional championship in 2012 and became 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 practices 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.[4][5]

References
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. "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.
  4. Kerber, Fred. "Big cheers, then defeat, for Uganda at LLWS". New York Post. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  5. Armas, Genaro C. "Uganda Eliminated at Little League World Series". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
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