…As a High-Performance Centre is commissioned
South East Cricket Stakeholders under the umbrella of South East Cricket Association (SECA) have successfully conducted a 9 days Elite Cricket Camp held at Government Secondary School, Afikpo, Ebonyi State from 26th October to 4th September 2022.
The camp which was aimed at upgrading the cricket skills of cricketers in South East Nigeria had in attendance 6 players from each of the 5 states of the southeast, coaches, and a few other players and officials in Afikpo. This brought the total number of participants to 51.
The camp was facilitated by Mr. Olisa Egwuatu with the assistance of the South East RDO, Charles Obasi, and coaches in attendance.
Players were exposed to various aspects of the game including mind games and intellectual sessions. They also learned how to work as a team amidst bowling, batting, fielding, and throwing drills. The sessions in the 9-day exercise also featured video sessions where players watched and analyzed matches on TV.
The coaches and officials that participated include:
Coaches
1. Dumebi Okoye
2. Grace Nwabuisi Chioma
3. Ogbue Chuka
4. Omeh Victor
5. Mba Micheal
6. Ebi Patrick
*Officials*
1. Ikem Asika
2. Alex Mbamalu
3. Uju Idika
The players expressed delight about how what they learned in the camp will help improve their cricket and approach to life.
*COMMISSIONING OF THE HIGH PERFORMANCE CENTER*
The elite camp also saw the commissioning of the South East High-Performance Centre which got a net that will aid bowling, batting, and helping a small group of people practice anytime they want.
Speaking during the commissioning of the high-performance center, the Representative of the South East on the board of Nigeria Cricket Federation and the sponsor of the High-Performance Centre, Mr. Chika Okoro, said the high-performance center is his little donation to the growth and development of cricket in South East, Nigeria.
He thanked Government Secondary School, Afikpo for providing the space for the cricket net. “The plan is to build 2 strips of tough wicket in the near future”, he said. He was convinced the net will make it easier for young cricketers to learn and also makes it easier for the coaches to correct them while ensuring a smaller group of people can practice effectively without running around a big pitch.
The director of the Elite Cricket Camp, Mr. Olisa Egwuatu, expressed delight in his job of improving play and the level of cricket awareness in South East, Nigeria while describing the cricket net as a “giant leap forward that will help improve our cricket proficiency in South East Nigeria”. He could not hide his excitement about the high-performance center. “It is one of the biggest things that happened in South East Cricket”, he said.
The coordinator of South East Cricket Association, Mr. Ogbonnaya Okogeri, who also doubles as the Chairman of Enugu State Cricket Association, expressed his thanks to the South East Rep. Mr. Chika Okoro and all the South East Cricket Association Chairmen, (Barr. Chuma Anosike, Elder James Okwara, High Chief Tony Ajaelu, and Ogbonna Okogeria) for making the camp possible. He also thanked the coaches and facilitators as well as the chaperone for a successful outing.
*Charles I. Obasi*
South East Regional Development Officer,
Nigeria Cricket Federation
