Men’s Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour Delights Lagos Students
About 400 students from public and private schools in Lagos were delighted to witness the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour, at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval in Lagos, Nigeria.
The students who spoke in an interview said the trophy tour was a great motivation for them. The students were mainly from secondary schools in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
A Junior Secondary School student from Crown Grace College in Ikorodu, Hephzibah Abebefe, said the desire to be a professional cricket player brought her to the venue of the trophy tour.
“I am here because I love cricket game since it was introduced to our school. I actually want to play cricket and my parents have been supportive of my ambition,” Abebefe said.
“The game of cricket was introduced to our school last year and I have been following the game since then. Coming here to see the cup is a dream come true, maybe we will be playing at the world cup in years to come, that will be a good dream.”
The President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), Uyi Akpata, expressed his elation about the remarkable success achieved during the two-day trophy tour.
He hailed the attendance of all especially the ICC dignitaries as a testament to the recognition and importance of cricket in Africa, particularly in Nigeria.
“We have shown them that TBS and Lagos is the home of cricket. It’s really a big deal getting over 400 kids who are out of school term to grace an occasion like this,” Akpata said.
“It shows the structure we have in place in cricket. It’s the new sports in town I’d I might use that phrase. It is a significant global objective that also captures Nigeria and Nigeria has been identified as one of those countries where the initiative is yielding results.”
Another Senior Secondary School Three student of Crown Grace College, Glory Alamu, said she had been glued to the television watching cricket games and was now happy to have a feel of the cup.
“I have been watching the game of cricket for a while now and it’s a thrilling that we have the World Cup in Nigeria, though we are not going to the tournament,” Alamu added.
“This is a great motivation for us seeing the cup here in Lagos, we didn’t expect such a thing; maybe some competition, but having the World Cup is memorable.”
For Okikiola Alabi from same school, cricket is such an interesting game.
“When I was first introduced to the cricket game, I thought it was boring, but now I find the game more interesting and I want to see myself in the national team,” he said.
The trophy tour presentation ceremony had in attendance, International Cricket Council (ICC) representatives in Africa and Nigeria. The event also had in attendance ICC bigwigs from Africa and Nigeria which includes ICC Development Manager, William Glenwright, Rohet Roda Senior Manager, ICC Member Services.
Others are Patricia Kambarau, ICC Africa Development Manager, Eddy Wamba, Trophy Tour Manager, Uyi Akpata, President, Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), Amit Sharma, Managing Director, Nissan Nigeria.
Activities at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour included exhibition match by the students and cultural troupe presentation, among others.
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