Association to build cricket pitches in Edo

The Edo Cricket Association says it will build three new practice pitches across the state in a bid to promote the game.
The association chairman, Uyi Akpata, announced the plan at the closing of the state’s 2016/2017 Secondary Schools Cricket League/Senior League in Benin on Saturday.
He also said part of the 2017/2018 strategy plan to promote the game was to increase the number of secondary schools which play the game from 7 to 15.


Akpata said aside this plan to re-grass the Edo Boys High School cricket pitch, the association would get kits for each of the secondary schools that would participate in the league.
He also unveiled plans to purchase additional junior facilities and kits for the quarterly clinics, as well as provide audio visual facilities for training.

The chairman added that the state plan to attract three major sponsors to support the game in 2017/2018 and host a U-19 South-South event for boys and girls.
“We also plan to host a national 20/20 event and have an over 40s senior invitational event with funds to be raised for charity,” he stated.
The chairman also disclosed the state association’s plan to align and be actively involved in activities of the national body.

Speaking on the 2016/2017 season, he said “we have had a short but very exciting first cricket season, following the relaunch of cricket in Edo.
“The primary objective of the association’s board was to reignite the interest in the game across all levels in the state.
“I am sure that with the success of this season, we have firmly established the platform for the game to grow in years ahead.

“With the interest generated in this first year, we hope to bring more schools on board next season.”
Speaking at the occasion, the President, Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), Emeka Onyeama, lauded the Edo association for the re-launch of the game in the area.
“Edo in the South-South region has always been a power house in the development of cricket and it gladdens my heart to see that this factory that has manufactured excellent cricketers for the country has been revived.’’