The NCF special intervention grassroots development program organized by the training department of the Secretariat have begun officially in Abuja. As part of the NCF/Pwc Naija Kids cricket program that seeks to introduce ten thousand new entrants into the sport every year, 10 schools have been identified by the Federation for the program.

 

We may recall that earlier this year, the federation organized a 2 day level 1 introductory coaching program for game masters and mistresses in the FCT to be able to further coach students in their various schools.

 

In line with the NCF schedule, a coaching clinic will be organized and make shift training equipment will also be donated to the schools to aid coaching, while coaches from the Federation will also be appoint to various schools to facilitate the process.

 

Over the last 2 week, 6 schools have already benefited from the exercise namely;

  1. Christ Academy International School Gwagwalada – 2nd July, 2019
  2. Louisville International School Gwagwalada– 2nd July, 2019
  3. Government Secondary School Tudun-wada, Zone 4 – 4th July, 2019
  4. Premier Academy Lugbe – 4th July, 2019
  5. O.S Children Village International Gwagwalada – 5th July 5, 2019
  6. Noble Hall Leadership Academy- July 9th 2019

 

Schools visited thus far welcomed the coaching department of the Federation and expressed their delight in the initiative and were impressed with the Federation for the follow up from the Level 1 coaching course and the promise made to establish the sport in their schools.

 

The expected progress from this initiative is to have a softball tournament by October for the schools involved and progress to hard ball in the nearest future

 

The Secretariat also used the opportunity to launch the Federation’s Saturday Cricket Academy where kids can come for free coaching between the hours of 9.am and 12 noon. On Saturday 6th July, Kids from a few schools took part in the launch and kids from environs also participated. The CRIIO concept was also introduced which corrects the impression that Cricket is an elite sport” but rather, it’s a sport that can be played by anyone, anywhere and anytime.

Coaches involved in this program are

  1. Peter Yakubu (RDO North Central)
  2. Ayo Mene-Ejegi
  3. Okechukwu Onwudiwe (Protocol Officer N.C.F)
  4. Agatha Obulor (
  5. Ehiguase Uadiale
  6. Musa Ehizoje (Public Relations Officer N.C.F)
  7. Emeka Igwilo (General Manager N.C.F)
  8. DolapoTinu ( Assistant Sec. Gen N.C.F)

 

Emeka Igwilo, General Manager Federation thanked everybody involed for their sacrifice and commitment to the project while explaining that with the intervention program, there is no doubt that the FCT will become a power house of the sport in the near future.

The first phase of the NCF /Pwc Naija Kids Cricket have successfully been conducted in 18 states of the country and the second phase expected to resume in the 3rd quarter of the year.