Chinese Taipei manager Hao-Jiu Tseng: "We are aiming for the best result in our history"
World No. 2 Chinese Taipei will open the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS playing No. 4 Venezuela on Thursday, November 21 at the Tokyo Dome at 12 (local time).
"Venezuela is a powerful team," said manager Hao-Jiu Tseng during a press conference. Some of their players [pitchers Nivaldo Rodriguez and Enderson Franco] are terrific friends. We haven't played them many times, and their baseball may be unfamiliar, but whoever we're going to face, we will do our best to beat them."
He added: "Teamwork took as here. We must keep working as a team to succeed in the Super Round. I'm happy and honoured to be in Tokyo. We will have a chance to rechallenge Japan, the No. 1 team in the world, and make history, having the best result in the history of our baseball. Considering the great players we will be facing, it will also be a chance to learn."
Tseng also spoke about the practice session on the Taipei Dome turf.
"Half of our players do not know this venue. It was a critical practice. All the players are in good condition, and everybody on the staff is ready to pitch."
"The manager chose me as his captain because I know Japanese baseball," said veteran outfielder Chieh-Hsien Chen. "Then we worked together to create the right atmosphere in the clubhouse. A happy environment helps to perform as a team."
Chen spoke about his experience in Japanese baseball.
"Baseball is the same in Japan or Taiwan. I spent three years in a Japanese high school, and I was impressed by how much making the Koshien tournament is important to players in Japan. I also noticed that Japanese players focus more on playing for the team than on individual results. Their attitude was something that helped me improve as a player.