The Vice-Chairman of Rivers State Amateur Cricket Association, Sodje Lily Tariah has said that plans are on top gear to organise inter-secondary school cricket competition in the State early next year.

He said that the state government has agreed to support the association to enable it host a successful tournament.

Tariah stated this while speaking as the Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony of the two day “Introductory Cricket Coaching Course” organised by the International Cricket Council and African Cricket Association, in conjunction with Rivers State Cricket Association, at the Enitonia High School, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

According to him, the major aim of the course is to catch them young and to have teachers in the secondary school as cricket coaches.

“If we have the support and confidence in the teachers, it will be very easy to sell the game, because the teachers are primarily the custodians of the students while in school,” Tariah said.

He continued that the game could be combined with academic work and other things, noting that it is a game for both the poor and rich.

“You and I know that cricket is not for the rich alone, anybody can play it, as soon as you have the interest. Besides, you can comfortably combine the game with academy,” he stated.

The Vice-Chairman explained that the game is not popular because the school system in Nigeria is not being run the way it is supposed to be run in terms of sporting activities.

He expressed optimism that the game would soon become popular because of the new sporting facilities that the government is providing in the model schools.

Tonye Orabere