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Despite hiccups, Nigeria battle ready for Guernsey | (2009-05-20 )

After weeks of anxiety surrounding preparation and procurement of travel visas, Nigeria’s cricket team is finally ready to charge in Guernsey, venue of World Cricket League 7, which holds from May 17 to 24, 2009.

Nigeria qualified for Guernsey when it came second to Botswana in South Africa during the African championship last year.

The team has five new players included in the 2009 team that has been described as the strongest in recent times by team manager, Ladipo Idowu who stated that, “we have all the ingredients to be successful in Guernsey.”

He adds that the players that have been chosen are the strongest that the country can boast of now. The new additions to the team include: Joshua Ogunlola, Lekan Awolowo, Seye Olympio, Saheed Akolade and Emmanuel Okwudili and they hope to make the difference in Guernsey.

Akolade, the rookie on the team is full of prayers:

“I hope that the luck that is needed to succeed in any of life’s endeavours would be present with us. We have prepared the best we can, apart from the botched London trip but we are not complaining. By God’s grace, we will do our best, and our best, mixed with luck, should see us through. This year I have won the National Sports Festival, CCC League and Super 4. The next is the World Cricket League 7 in Guernsey, Insha Allah,” he said.

Other players on the team are Wale Adeoye (captain), Endurance Ofem (assistant captain), Aruna Thomas, Ademola Onikoyi, Segun Olayinka, Kunle Adegbola, Jide Bejide, Tope Olayinka, and Chimezie Onwuzulike. Foremost ex-international, Ewa Henshaw is the coach of the team.

Today in Port Soif, the Nigerian team confronts Suriname and Endurance Ofem, who just finished his examinations at the Lagos State University (LASU), is brimming with optimism: “I made time out to train at least thrice a week during my examination. All I need to do now, is to freshen up and I will be ready for the championship. The other players have been in camp and are ready physically. We just hoped we could have played more competitive friendly matches but nevertheless, we hope for the best.”

Nigeria will compete with Bahrain, Japan, Gibraltar, Suriname and the hosts. Each of the participating teams is ranked between 32nd and 37th on world ranking.

The first two teams at the end of the tournament will get promoted to Division 6 of the world group, which will qualify them to play in the division’s championship coming up next September in Singapore. The last two teams in the Guernsey meet will drop down to division 8.

Ladipo Idowu is proud to be associated with the team and is impressed with the spirit in the camp.

“The slogan is ‘Mission to Singapore’, because we want to be progressing, gradually until we reach the stage where the best in the world perform. We know that our opponents in Guernsey are very good. I am happy that we are a bit familiar with their style and about their main men. Success in Guernsey will be a pleasant addition to the feat we recorded last year in South Africa. It will also be an indication the growth of the game in Nigeria.”