By Philips Robinson-Adefioye, UK
The London-Nigeria Cricket Club (LNCC), says the club’s Annual General Meeting(AGM) and elections was a huge success as the Club Executives also deliberated on their upcoming tour to Gibraltar which is the one of the club’s itineraries for the year 2024.
Captain of the club, Samuel-Shola Anyia, made this known in an exclusive interview with www.sunrisetimes.com.ng . According to the Nigerian international, plans are in top gear for the next season.
Speaking further, Anyia commended the efforts of Demola Tade, the LNCC Project Manager for the tour, adding that the Club has also deliberated on how to improve the standard of the club in the fast approaching season.
Highlighting the outcomes and decisions of the AGM, Anyia stressed all efforts are geared towards the players commencing early net training and strategies for more victories during 2024 calendar year.
In his words : “The AGM and the elections went well and most important thing was that we touched on our tour to Kigali, Rwanda this year and as well as our upcoming tour to Gibraltar which is managed by the club’s Project Manager.
” We also talked about the season, and how to upgrade the standard of our games. Last season our outstanding player was Ademola Onikoyi, Nigerian international who scored a century and Osita Onwuzulike.
“ I can tell you that the essence of this is to have early net training to keep fit ahead of the matches planned for the whole season which is better than having more wins than losses”
Emphasizing on the future projects of the club in 2024 season Anya said he determined to see more victories materialised for the team which will be tutored by former Nigeria’s under 19 Junior Yellow-Greens handler, Clive Uthe Ogbemi.
On the tour of Rwanda, Ayan described the LNCC cricket tour to Kigali, Rwanda as a pleasant one adding that seeing other Nigerian players joining them in Kigali was a good omen and encouraging.
“It was a very good experience for Mustapha to come to Rwanda to understand the playing condition and to know other Nigerian cricketers as a whole.
“In fact it was a successful tour, what we need now is to improve on the games, we only won a game because LNCC lack the special resources to win the remaining two games , but in general the tour was a fantastic one . It was discussed at our AGM which we received a good feedback”.
Shedding more light on the club schedules, Anya hinted that LNCC is no more in the County League because the club’ players are working class who are only available on weekends for trainings and matches.
“Let me make it clear, LNCC used to play the league but not anymore, we currently play friendlies matches with different club side on Sundays but we do play competitive clubs. Two of our games were against the Vicars Cricket Club and Catford Cricket Club. “ Ayan stated.
Ayan ,a squad member of Nigeria’s Senior Yellow-Greens to ICC-Africa T20 qualifiers hosted by Nigeria in Lagos explained that LNCC motives is always to expand the community through the game by opening the Club’s doors to Nigerians who are talented and show interest in playing for the club.
” LNCC’s motive is always to expand the community, some new families join us ahead of this new season, they are young kids which is good and we also have the Ogbemi brothers who played part of our games last season and they will be playing the full game this season and they have been part of County training side and also been playing for Blackheath Cricket Club which is very good.
“We have not been able to do general recruitment but we have been able to open our door to Nigerians who have talents or who have showed interest in cricket and we train them from there” He emphasised.
