Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Guardian Nigeria
Published on 2024-02-04 02:58:28
The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has announced that the national finals of the fifth PwC U-17 Cricket Championship will be taking place from February 14th to 19th at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. This information was revealed by Emeka Igwilo, the General Manager of the NCF and co-chair of the 2024 organizing committee for the event. The decision to move the finals by a week was made in order to accommodate the requests from regions that needed more time to prepare and bond as a team before the national finals.
Out of the six regions, four have already concluded their regional qualifications, including the South-West, South-South, North-Central, and North East. The North-West and South-East regions will be having their regional finals this upcoming weekend, giving the teams a few days to prepare before reporting to Abuja for the national finals. The NCF board granted an additional week for the teams to assemble and practice, which also allows for logistical matters to be sorted out more efficiently.
A total of 34 states registered boys’ teams for the championship, while 25 states entered girls’ teams. The regional events have already concluded, with the South-West qualifiers seeing Ogun State’s girls’ team and Oyo State’s boys’ team qualifying. In the North Central region, it was Niger State’s boys’ team and Kwara State’s girls’ team who emerged victorious. Edo State dominated the South-South qualifiers for both boys and girls, while Gombe State represented the North East region at the finals.
According to Igwilo, it is expected that each regional team will be represented by their best talents, ensuring that the top players from every team are given the opportunity to showcase their skills at the national level. This approach aims to provide exposure to the best talents, regardless of their team’s performance at the regional finals, and promotes integration across regional lines.
The PwC National U-17 Championship has become instrumental in nurturing and advancing talents to the national team. It serves as a platform for young cricketers to develop their skills and gain invaluable experience in competitive settings. With the support of the NCF and its partners, the championship plays a crucial role in the growth and development of cricket at the grassroots level.
As the national finals draw near, the excitement and anticipation for the event continue to build. The NCF is committed to ensuring that the championship provides a rewarding experience for the participating teams, while also contributing to the overall development of cricket in Nigeria. Through initiatives like the PwC U-17 Cricket Championship, the NCF is driving the progress of the sport and creating opportunities for young athletes to thrive.
