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NCF BOARD HAILS NIGERIAN TEAM'S PERFORMANCE AT WCL AFRICA 2 | (2008-10-26 )

The Board of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) rose from its meeting on

Thursday 16th October hailing the performance of the Nigerian cricket team that placed

second at the World Cricket League (WCL) Africa Division 2 tournament that

recently took place in South Africa.

The team played five matches winning four losing only to tournament winner,

Botswana but in the process achieving heart-warming victories over Zambia,

Mozambique, Swaziland and Ghana. These were the first victories for the

country in these series since 2000 when it started participating in the African

zone of the WCL.

The Board reflected that the performance aligned with the resolve of the NCF to

make a mark and prove that with adequate and focused preparation, our

cricketers can hold their own. It also commended victories over non-West African

countries, which had not happened in a long time and vindicates the strategy

of the NCF to invest in training camps outside the country for tournaments of

this nature where the team could acclimatize to not only the conditions of the

hosting country but also the turf wickets.

The team underwent a 2-week training camp in South Africa under the auspices

of the Africa Cricket Association (ACA) at its Benoni academy which benefited the team

tremendously given the expert coaching and facilities that were made available.

Two years ago, at a similar tournament in Tanzania, the Nigerian team had under-

taken a two-week long training camp in neighboring Kenya in preparation for the tourney.

Five members of the Tanzanian assignment made the team for the South African

tournament.

The NCF Board approved that a befitting reception be organized to recognize the

the wonderful performance of the team at which awards would be made to the

members of the squad.

Aside from the WCL, the Board dwelt extensively on the last NWACC games hosted

by Nigeria commending the excellent hosting as well as the victory of the Nigerian

team in retaining the title won in Gambia last year. The financial accounts of the

NWACC Games which were presented by the NCF auditors were approved and the

use of marketing consultants for the purpose of raising money as is done by

cricket bodies internationally was commended with N15million raised for the tourney.

The Board in particular lauded BGL, the major sponsor of the tournament for the

N10million sponsorship grant made available which contributed to the success of the

tournament significantly. The Board however noted that the tournament cost N24

million in total and financial arrangements had to be made to settle all obligations.

The Board also deliberated on the forth-coming ICC-Africa North-West African regional

U-17 tournament to be hosted by Nigeria and approved Abeokuta as the host city and

Abeokuta Sports Club and MKO Abiola Stadium cricket pitches as match venues whilst

the University of Ibadan cricket pitch will be placed on standby.

The Indomie National Secondary Schools Championships which will involve about 64 schools

nation-wide was also discussed and the action plan for a successful debut

was approved for the tournament which is been sponsored by De-United Foods Ltd (DUFIL)

at N12million. The tournament will provide players that will represent the country

in age-grade tournaments like the U-13, U-15, U-17 and U-19 in future. The Board commended

DUFIL for partnering with the NCF in taking cricket back to schools.

Finally, given the intensity of cricket administration arising from dynamic developments at

the ICC level, the board agreed to pursue a rebranding of the NCF into CRICKET NIGERIA

in alignment with contemporary posturing in the cricket world. Also in similar alignment the

NCF will seek to create the position of CEO to handle the day-to-day management of the

affairs of the Federation and free the President to concentrate on policy issues.