Great facilities, effective grassroots initiatives critical to cricket’s growth, says Akpata

President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), Uyi Akpata, has hinged the country’s rise in international cricket to the provision of world-class facilities and effective grassroots development programme that continues to churn out talented youngsters from across the country for the sport.

Nigeria hosted the ICC Africa U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup qualifier, which ended in Lagos at the weekend, just one year after its girls featured at the ICC U-19 Women’s World Cup, in Malaysia. These and other recent feats earned Akpata the Sports Administrator of the Year Award at the Sportsville Special Recognition Awards, which was held in Lagos, at the weekend.

Speaking after the awards, an excited Akpata described the recognition as a call for more hard work, adding that it has vindicated the efforts the NCF has put into making cricket desirable to every Nigerian.

Akpata said that the foundation laid by the NCF in the last six years has accounted for proper growth of the game; picking some of the programmes to include promoting the game at all levels (male and female) through grassroots development in the six geo-political zones; upgrading infrastructure in key locations in line with international standards; making modern equipment available to players at all levels; establishing strategic partnerships with other key stakeholders, notable sponsors, media and international cricket bodies.

as well as, maintaining appropriate governance and finance structure to ensure a sustainable cricket business and also improve players and officials’ quality through regular local and international competitions and developmental events.

He added: “I am super excited because when the Nigerian girls finished fifth at the World Cup, most people