Abuja Cricket Club targets 2,000 students

Disclosing this to Grassroots Sports in Abuja, the co-ordinator school cricket, Richard Pembroke, said the club’s plans, among others, is to increase the number of secondary school students that play cricket in Abuja.

Penbroke noted with delight the success recorded so far by the club in terms of the number of secondary school students that play cricket in Abuja as a result of the tireless efforts of the club.

“We currently have presence in about five secondary schools within the FCT. The students of those schools now play cricket and are very happy with the game. It is on this note that the club is planning to increase the number in the next 12 months.

 “The aim is to popularize the game in Nigeria after it has almost completely been abandoned. Decades back, cricket was very popular in Nigeria with schools competing in inter schools competitions. But today, such competition has died completely.

“We have taken it upon ourselves at Abuja Cricket Club to re-establish the game in the country and the best place where to do it is in schools. Once we can have many schools playing the game, the future of the game in Nigeria will be very bright,” Pembroke assured.

He revealed that new fashion of cricket (quick cricket) will be introduced in the target schools in order to disabuse the minds of those who see cricket as a very expensive game, which can only be played by the rich.

“We are going to introduce quick cricket, which is very inexpensive and will go a long way in helping us popularise cricket in Nigeria without having to incur huge bills. The playing oval, to bat and other equipment required for the game can be locally fabricated. And such locally fabricated equipment will make it possible for people change their opinion about the game.

“Our committee will meet to decide on how to go about the development of cricket in Nigeria through secondary schools. The outcome of the meeting will definitely improve the fortune of the game in Nigeria,” he concluded.