Zonal Cricket Play-Off: Team Rivers Eyes Qualification

The Rivers State Cricket
Association has assured Port Harcourt fans of its readiness to win the zonal cricket play-off among South-South states expected to be hosted in Port Harcourt this year.
Chief Coach of Rivers State Cricket Team, Tonye Timilade who stated this said that the play off would be the maiden edition for the Rivers female team.
Speaking to Tidesports in an exclusive interview on Monday, Timilade assured fans that both male and female cricket teams would make the state proud in the tournament and also qualify to represent the zone in the national cricket league that would be held in Abuja.
On the state of cricket in Rivers State, the coach said that four schools namely Enitonia High School, Baptist High School, Stella Marris College and Government Comprehensive Secondary School are presently playing the game adding that other schools have also indicated interest.
On low awareness of the game in the state , the young one amicable Timilade blamed the development on inability of national federation to organise tournaments aimed at improving the game especially at the grassroot.
Timilade who was a former grassroot cricket player said he began his career in the sport during his secondary school  days adding improving the game of cricket should not be based on theory but practical.
According to him improving the game needs provision  of necessary playing kits like gloves, bats and so on.
He also said that except federal government schools, “you hardly see secondary schools partake in the type of game”.
It would be recalled that, Rivers State is rated thord best cricket team presently in Nigeria due to its performances at the last National Sports Festival.

Dick Aggo