Wetin dey happen for Lagos? Na cricket na! Di Club Cricket Committee for Lagos don introduce new programme wey go dey involve schools every month, all in d name to make cricket beta for di kids.
Last Saturday, about 11 schools gather for Tafawa Balewa Square Oval. Di pupils no just sit down dey watch; dem also dey practice bowling, batting, and fielding with di help of six coaches wey sabi wetin dem dey do. E be like say some of di pikin dem never see dem play cricket before, while others don learn am small for class.
One small boy wey go Oluwole Nursery and Primary School, Rufai Semilore, come dey shine like star as him talk say dis na im first time wey him dey see di cricket pitch. “I really enjoy am and I wan play as well,” him yarn. Di joy dey for di air, abeg!
Another teacher from Myoung Military Primary School, Dairo Omowumi, come dey chuk mouth too, say him dey happy as him pupils dey enjoy di drill. “E be like say I get work to do, but dis kind experience go make dem wan sabi di game pass,” him talk.
No be gbogbo schools dey show love for cricket o! King’s College, wey sabi wetin dem dey do for dis cricket matter, come join di gist. Di captain, Uthman Muhammad, talk say dem don take small break, but now dem dey ready to participate again. “Programs like dis go help our kind,” im talk.
Di chairman of CCC Lagos, Endurance Ofem, wey don run things for Nigeria cricket before, talk say dis initiative na part of wetin dem dey do to inspire di next generation. “We fit find plenty players from dis schools, di more, di better,” im yan.
Make I drop some history for una: di Club Cricket Committee begin for 1987 with only four clubs, but na today dem don blow like breeze wey carry 22 teams dey jostle. Na nine clubs dey for Premier Division, and di rest dey fight for Division One. Di top teams for Division One go enter Super 4 tournament, wey go decide who go join di big boys for Premier Division.
Last season, Rising Stars Cricket Club and Rocks of Abeokuta win di championship for dem respective divisions. Na serious matter, no be joke!
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