Cricket Federation satisfied with quality, level of participation at U-17 zonal championship

The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), says it is satisfied with the quality and level of participation at the just concluded NCF/PwC national U-17 zonal qualifiers.

Obalola told our correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday that the tournament, which ran concurrently at the weekend in some states of the federation, had helped discover more talents for the sport.

He said the feat was evident of the federation’s grassroots developmental programme.

“We are more than satisfied with the participation and quality of the tournament. This has helped us to discover young players from all regions of the country.”

“The plan of the federation under President Uyi Akpata, is to reach 250,000 youths in the sport annually and we are achieving this through championships like this.”

“We are able to achieve this by ensuring states have equipment and facilities to train with, to further propagate the game.”

“We have a record of 31 states presenting male teams and 25 for female, it wasn’t so before now. Presently, we are having states which were not participating before now getting involved,” Obalola said.

The NCF official also thanked Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) for sponsoring the event since its inception four years ago.

Meanwhile, Team Kwara won both male and female event in the North Central finals, while Team Edo became champions also in male and female event ahead of the South Southern states.

In South West, Lagos were champions in the male event while Ekiti lifted the trophy in the female event. Team Kaduna snatched the trophy in both male and female events for North West.

For South East, Imo state won the tournament for male and Ebonyi took the gold medals for female, while Gombe claimed trophy in both male and female events for North East.

However, in spite of the states’ victory, the best players in each state of the region would be selected to represent the region in the finals of the event on Feb. 15 in Abuja.