Three members of the record making Nigerian U-19 female cricket team at the ICC Female U19 T19 World Cup in Malaysia were recently hosted by the staff and students of their secondary schools in Uyo and Benin City.
Deborah Bassey, Inyene Umoh and Adeshola Adekunle were received by a rousing crowd of fellow students in their various schools
At the Community Secondary Commercial School (C.S.C.S.) Ibiaku Itam in Uyo, Deborah Bassey and Inyene Umoh were received in a guard of honour that was mounted by players of the school cricket and netball teams.
Inyene is also a member of the school netball team and she started playing cricket two years ago.
Both students could not hide their delight for the V.I.P. welcome they received from their fellow students and management of the school.
The school Principal, Mrs Mary Okon and Mr Ifiok Imin praised the two students for being good ambassadors of the school that has in the past few years, dominated different secondary school competitions in Akwa Ibom State.
The assistant coach of the Nigerian U-19 female cricket team, Blessing Etim also graced the occasion, which she thinks will encourage more students of the school to either try to learn how to play cricket or try other sports like netball, rugby, football, athletics and American flag football that are played in the school.
To add icing to the celebration cake, C.S.C.S. won the Mrs Alice Imaria Ehimiaghe award for using sports to engage and empower their more than 2000 students.
The prize of 150 thousand naira was given to the school management. The two cricketers were given a token of 20 thousand naira by the event organisers, CSED Initiative.
At Iyoba College in Benin City, the cricketer Adeshola Adekunle was also warmly received at the assembly ground of Iyoba College. Adeshola was commended by the school management for doing their school proud in Malaysia.
Iyoba College was awarded the Mrs Alice Imaria Ehimiaghe award for using sports to build the character and learning experiences of their students.
Students of the college take part in netball, football, badminton, athletics and cricket, where they recently won the Elizabeth Osato Edebiri memorial cricket tournament for girls in Benin City.
The school also received the sum of 150 thousand Naira which they pledge would be used in buying basic sports kits that will be used by their students in preparation for their forthcoming inter-house sports event and future secondary schools’ competitions.
Both schools have a dedicated cricket ground with practice nets. Iyoba College has a small cricket stand, while current construction work at the cricket spectator stand of C.S.C.S. is to be completed soon.
Both schools have benefitted immensely from the “catch them young” grassroots development programmes of the current Board of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), which has also used cricket to provide psycho-social support to residents of some IDPs and refugee camps in Nigeria.
Apart from investing in the development of the sporting talents of the cricketers, NCF through its President, Uyi Akpata, has also supported the cricketers in accessing further education in various universities in Nigeria by providing them with scholarship and maintenance grants.
