Over 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 Oval pitch, Lagos.
The students who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday said the trophy tour was a great motivation for them.
NAN reports that the students were mainly from secondary schools in Ikorodu, Lagos State.
A Junior Secondary School student from Crown Grace College, 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.
“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,” she said.
Another Senior Secondary School Three student of Crown Grace College, Glory Alamu, said she had been glued to the television watching cricket game 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.
“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,” she said.
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.
Isaac Okpubigbo of Mighty Pillars Club said Nigeria should pay more attention to the game of cricket.
“We need to pay more attention to the game of cricket because it has a lot of benefits, especially financial.
“Cricket is a game that can attract more spectators to the stadium just like football, so, if we are serious enough, we will have more investments in the game,” he said.
Another player, Shadrach Oke, said it was nice having the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour in Lagos.
“Lagos already has the facility what we need, all we to do more is have more games both local and international,” 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.
NAN reports that activities at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour included exhibition match by the students, cultural troupe presentation, among others.
