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By: Abiodun Adewale
Coal City Cricket Club have emerged champions of the maiden bi-annual Caesar Okogeri Club Cricket Championship organised by the Enugu State Cricket Association.
The three-day championship was played between four teams at the St. Patrick’s Secondary School in Enugu.
The other teams are St. Patrick’s Cricket Club, Rising Sun Cricket Club and UNN Cricket Club.
Chairman, Enugu State Cricket Association, Ogbonnaya Okogeri, said the event would galvanise the interest of more Enugu youths in the game.
“We thought of honouring the memory of my late dad, who died 30 years ago, with this event, which helps to galvanise all the efforts being put up in Enugu State and its environs to further cricket development.
“There is no better time to be fully engaged in the growth and development of the youths than now, and cricket has, apart from keeping a number of these away from vices, also handed them a platform for social and economic empowerment.”
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Enugu State, Llyod Ekweremadu, who graced the event, commended the association for their commitment and investment in sports development.
Also, the South East zonal representative on the board of Nigeria Cricket Federation, Chika Okoro, expressed his delight in the quality of play and organisation of the tournament.
In the final match, Rising Sun were held to 56-run, all out, in 11.4 overs for a 25-run victory by Coal City to lift the championship trophy.
Odo Chigozie of Rising Sun was awarded the best bowler of the event with six wickets, while Ogbue Prince of UNN picked the batter honour, garnering 56 runs at the event. Iyang Henry of Coal City was named the Most Valuable Player, while Ude Amarachi emerged the rising star of the event.
