By

Kayode Adeniyi

When the FCT Cricket Association led by its Chairman, Engineer Emeka Onyeama with the support of other members including Kayode Adeniyi, one time Nigeria Cricket Federation board member came out to announce their intentions to revive the game of Cricket in the Federal Capital Territory, little did residents know how far they intend to go.

The first point of calls to these dreamers is FCT Education Board. According to them, Sports and Education are like twins. Any attempt to separate them might lead to disaster for any country. This is what has been lacking in today’s Sports Development in Nigeria. Since the country has jettissoned her sports developmental process of discovery raw talents from Schools, the result is there for anyone to see.

The collaboration between the FCT Education Board, FCT Sports department and FCT Cricket Association in achieving this desire is critical to this revival as lots will be achieved at the end of the day.
For those that are thinking that it is only FCT Cricket Association that will benefit from this revival, let me state here clearly that many will surely reap from this mission. Sincerely, first beneficiary is the FCT Cricket Association, as this will bring activity and attention to the game. The cricket initiative will also raise the profile of the FCT Sports department in the FCDA. The third beneficiary is the FCT Education Board under which all Secondary schools belong to. The fourth  beneficiaries are schools. Cricket in their schools, competition, facilities, good morals and money when they win competitions are all part of their gains. And lastly are the winner, the students. Good moral standards, exposure, opportunity  to play international  cricket, travels, scholarships, improved academic standards, network of friends to mentionbut a few. It is also important to appreciate the fact that all these are private funding from the pocket of Engineer Emeka Onyeama.
I must commend the Chairman, FCT Cricket Association, Engineer Emeka Onyeama, who initiated this project as the only way to grow and sustain the growth of cricket in FCT. Engr Onyeama is determined to make FCT Cricket part of the Education and Sports. According to him, " FCT Cricket must be institutionalised  to ensure sustainability and viability. Cricket activities and coaching in FCT must be regulated and harmonised  under the FCT Cricket Association." This, to me, is new thinking and new approach. 

To show the seriousness of their desire, the Association announced a former National Cricket Coach Olisa Egwatu as their new FCT Cricket Coach and Technical Consultant. Olisa Egwatu is a writer and Sports manager. He is a Founding Trustee and CEO of Howzat Foundation for Cricket based in Lagos and an alumnus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. It is not out the place to say that it is a round peg in a round hole.
After this, the association organised meeting with the Principals as strategic part for the take- off of the Schools Cricket initiative. According to the saying in local parlance, the secret of the house must be known to the head of family first. It was after the meeting with the School Principals that the Association under the Coach Egwatu  supervised a 3-day Introductory Cricket Coaching course for Sports officers of selected secondary schools. This is to show the seeds of cricket and cricket development  in the minds of teachers. 18 Game Masters from Selected 13 Secondary Schools took part in the course. The Schools game masters were taught on the rudimentary introduction as well as understanding the game itself, including the basic skills as well as how to organize and teach the basics to their students.
At the end of their training, the Association distributed Cricket training equipment like cricket Balls, cricket Bats, helmet, batting gloves, cricket leg guards, cricket gloves, wicket, Arm and Chest guards as well as cricket bags to the participants to use for training of their students.

The next stage now is the actual training of the students in various schools. Now that the Association has commenced the project on a private funding, all they are asking the government of the FCDA through the honourable Minister, Nyesom Wike is to grant them land to build Cricket Oval where they can hold Cricket competitions among Schools
All hands must be on deck to see to the smooth operation of this project as the country will reap the dividends of this private effort.

Kayode Adeniyi is the head of Media and Publicity Sub-Committee, FCT Cricket Association