Joel Ajayi
It was an array of talent discovery and unforgettable experiences for players and all stakeholders.
The Nigeria Cricket Federation ,NCF, has expressed delight over the `significant improvement’ of the standard of the NCF/PwC U17 Cricket Championship.
The sixth edition, ended at the weekend in Abuja with numerous upsets and new records set in the tournament, received commendation from stakeholders but notably organisers.
In his remarked, the tournament director, Musa Ehizoje while reviewing the competition, statec that the keenly contested event showcased the development of the game in the regions.
“Overall, the standard of the game has improved significantly and we saw that over the past weekend.
“For instance, we saw a team like North Central giving five -time champions South South a good run for their money in the male category.
“Also North Central beating one-time champion North West in the male event as well as North East picking a 93-run win against South West in the female event.
“These were amazing scenes. This was against bookmakers’ prediction but we saw it happen and it was a testament of how much the game has improved in the various regions.
“Unlike what we have witnessed in the past where teams like South South enjoy seamless ride to victory, now every team fight to finish and these excites us as a federation.
“By 2025, we will not be surprised to see any team beating the South South team to the trophy in both male and female events,”, he said.
Ehijoze, who is also the Public Relations Officer of the federation, said that this edition also reached a wide audience from across the globe, following Nigeria’s performance at the Under 19 World Cup in January.
“We had more people across the globe in this tournament which was streamed live because this is the tournament that produced the talents that represented Nigeria in Malaysia.
“We also had some of the World Cup players participate in this tournament because they are eligible.
“Now, we have a pool of talents to feed the Under 19 and senior national teams in both male and female category”, Ehizoje noted.
It would be recalled that, South South emerged champions in both male and female categories, with the women’s team coming top since the inception of the tournament while the men’s team are champions five times in a row.
