...The present board lags behind in developmental programme -Onyema
By Philips Robinson-Adefioye, UK
Former President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) Engineer Emeka Onyeama says the present NCF board under the leadership of Uyi Akpata has no developmental clue of the game of cricket.
Onyeama who made this statement in an exclusive telephone interview with www.sunrisetimes.com.ng said developmental programmes are run in a structured manner from the states pointing out that during his own era, they had developmental programmes which were published yearly but what is on ground now is: scattered activities.
In his words: “Developmental cricket programmes are structured, such activities are run in such a manner that are Fallout from the states. During my own tenure we used to have programme and activities which were published every year and these programmes were cascaded down to the States.
“In my time as NCF president, developmental structures were permanent which mirror pathway to development but what we are seeing now under Akpata is scattered activities not development.
“Development is when you have a system that runs a grade levels like under 12, 14, and 17 year olds which we have not seen and the followership irrespective of what is going on. The whole idea of the game is to dig deep into the game and the followership of the sport which will definitely provide a pathway for the growth of the game”.
The chairman of the FCT Cricket Association hinted that the only international standard ground certified by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in Abuja was built and completed during his era.
He stressed no board after him has leveraged on what he left as the former NCF President talkless of following-up on his board legacy adding that what the present board ably led by Uyi Akpata claiming they do was completely false.
“Under my watch I championed the only standard International cricket ground Nigeria ever had. it was built during my own tenure. I have watched and waited to see any administration after me proclaiming they have build an infrastructure, till now, I have not seen because no one has ever done what we have done.
According to Onyema, “what you are seeing today in Nigerian cricket was as a result of our administration ably led by me.
“We built that Abuja ground beyond people’s comprehension which led to major pivot of cricket activities today in Nigeria which ICC certified to host all international tournaments you see today. These are the result of our efforts of my administration from 2013 to 2017 era. I am confidently saying that the ground was completed in 2017″.
Onyeama said what the present NCF board claiming to be an achiever in developing the infrastructure was not true adding that the Abuja cricket oval at the MKO Abiola stadium remains the same. The infrastructure has not been developed outside the way it was left since 2017.
”No additional development has ever been added other than the way we left it since 2017, that is why I just want Nigerians to know the true that our era was the beginning of cricket explosion in Nigeria.
In his words ” Before we left in 2017, the ground you see today, we have laid the foundation of the pavilion since 2016 for us to build three thousand capacity seaters that will have provide us offices, lounge and facilities that will make us to come out in the evening to watch the game but up till date the foundation still remain untouched by this administration, no additional development, the only thing you see there is: the maintenance of the grass because they don’t have the choice but to re-grassed the turf.
“We expected after 12 years, that the ground, Pavillion, car park and hostels would had. even completed by now. These were the things we proposed and designed but instead what we see is total abandonment of the infrastructure by the administration that came after me”. Onyeama emphatically lamented.
