…Congratulates Yellow-Greens women’s U-19 team for making history
By Philips Robinson-Adefioye, UK
The Captain of the London-Nigerians Cricket Club (LNCC),Shola Anyia says the club performance this season worth celebrating and the club is looking forward to improve on it next season.
Anyia who made this known in an exclusive interview with www.sunrisetimes.com.ng said LNCC only lost a game in the recently concluded season adding that they were not resting on their oasis but want to better their form come next season.
“The team has done well this year no doubt, we are able to win more games but we only lost only one game this season and in this regard the team is looking forward to better it performance in another great season next year.
According to the enigmatic bowler, “we need to understand what LNCC is all about, it is more about gathering people of diverse community to join the team and predominantly we call it cup games or friendlies but unfortunately one of our cup games was cancelled because Vickings Cricket Club has other cup game it playing. it is not really about going into the league but it is about gathering people together and ensure that cricket lovers have a place to play the game and enjoy themselves”.
The former Nigerian international, “Yellow-Greens player” disclosed that LNCC has recruited two young lads who would definitely graduate to the main team in near future and it will be good to have more of them from either Nigeria or any diverse background.
“Currently we have recruited two teenagers, these are the children of Uthe Ogbemi, Nigeria’s Yellow-Greens junior head coach, they are integrating into the game and it will be good to have more kids from either Nigeria or any diverse background, even I volunteered to go to my daughter’s school to teach them cricket”.
He further said that LNCC is known for its traveling around the world in creating awareness stating some countries have been pencilled down to tour next year eg United States of America, Dublin, Republic of Ireland and somewhere in Africa but unfortunately the team could not travel to Gibraltar this season because of facility update in Gibraltar stadium.
“London-Nigerian Cricket Club is known for it touring around the world in creating an awareness about LNCC in UK. We were unable to actualized Gibraltar’s tour this year due to facility upgrade in Gibraltar stadium but next year we are looking at USA, Dublin, Republic of Ireland and somewhere in Africa”.
In another development Anyia however congratulated Nigerian Yellow-Greens under 19 female cricket team who did Nigeria proud at the just included ICC-Africa under 19 female qualifier in Kigali, Rwanda for their relentless effort in winning the qualifiers to represent Africa in ICC Women under 19 female world cup in Malaysia.
He also showered praises on the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) board under the leadership of Uyi Akpata for making another history in the game of cricket in Nigeria once again in his tenure.
Anyia who described NCF President as a combination of innovator and transformational leader hinted that his vision and action brought forth the needed result with proper planning.
“I see Uyi Akpata as a combination of innovator and transformational leader which is quite unique in the sense that he has a vision which is one leader aspect, he applied and implements the transformation of it which is another aspect which I am quite amazed about.
” If anything I am learning from him or had my opportunity, i will ask him how he transform from innovative to transformational leader? Regarding what one is doing in life, you would always have critics, it either sit on those critics or make that critics part of the learning call, which I think what Mr Akpata has done, relatively correct in the sense of making those critics that have come across him as a fuel in his car that push him forward, and he need to be commended for that.
” Recently the Nigeria under 19 female cricket team just qualified for ICC under 19 female world cup in Malaysia which under 19 boys did before now.
” Honestly credit must be given to Akpata because is combining everything with his transformational style, taken Nigeria where she was to this present level, even me, I can not imagine that Nigeria will beat Namibia, it’s never been in my head and for that to happened, Akpata needs to be given a round of applause” He emphasized .
Anyia therefore urged other senior stakeholders in the game to support the team to achieve greatness at the world cup in Malaysia despite the financial difficulty bedevilling the country.
“Let the girls know that they are making history, support them with everything possible, get the stakeholders in the country and sponsors to carry out the needed preparation to have a good outing in next year’s ICC under 19 women’s world cup in Malaysia” Anyia hinted.
