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The Nigeria Cricket Federation has signed a contract with top players in the men and women’s national teams.
The signing was done Friday at the ongoing NCF Women’s T20i Invitational tournament at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval in Lagos.
At the ceremony, NCF president, Uyi Akpata, said the move was necessary to stabilise and give players some measure of incentives to keep and raise their form.
“This is one step we have worked on so much to be able to bring stability to the team and encourage our players to be able to keep their relevance in the national team. This contract is for both the male and female national team players and we are hoping it encourages them and more importantly become the springboard for sustainable team building.”
Blessing Etim, who led the female Yellow-Green to their third straight win at the ongoing tournament, was joined by the men’s team captain, Sylvester Okpe, event.
Akpata added, “The contract is hoped to help the players to have resources to leverage on for the demands that being on a national team put on them. They can on their own pay for gym sessions, be on proper diets, and at least meet basic needs required of them as national team players.”
Akpata, said 18 players were on the first phase of the three-phase contract, while the second phase will bring on board 14 additional players by July 1.
Speaking on behalf of the players Sylvester Okpe, the national men’s team captain, said, “I think the players on this contract know that this demands a bit more consistency of form and requires us to do more whenever we are called upon.”
The contract will be renewed after one year for all of the players.
