By Denis Musali & Innocent Ndawula
KADUNA STATE CRICKET TEAM TOUR ITINERARY (JULY 16 – 24, 2019)
Tuesday, July 16:
Arrival at Entebbe Airport & Transfer to Nob View Hotel, Ntinda
Wednesday, July 17:
Training at Lugogo Cricket Ground
Thursday, July 18:
Match 1; T20 Match vs. Uganda Select, Kyambogo Oval
Friday, July 19:
Match 2; 50-Over Match vs. Uganda Select, Kyambogo Oval
Saturday, July 20:
Match 3; 50-Over vs. Uganda Select, Lugogo Cricket Ground
Sunday, July 21:
Rest Day
Monday, July 22:
Free Day; Excursion to Jinja
Tuesday, July 23:
Match 4; T20 vs. Uganda Select, Lugogo Cricket Ground & Closing Ceremony
Wednesday, July 24:
Check Out From Nob View & Flying Back To Nigeria
There is no trophy that the Kaduna State Cricket Team haven’t won in the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF)-organised national competitions. And thus the reason Kaduna State have decided to prowl the continent for better opposition, create new rivalries and not only reward their hard-working players but also give them a chance to improve their skill levels by getting them games abroad.
Already they have visited fellow states in Nigeria and won the Bi-lateral Series on their travels but Kaduna State Cricket Team will get their first real test when they make their first stop abroad in Kampala, Uganda.
Led by their coach Joe Oche-Onoja and captain Sylvester Okpe, who is also a national team player, Kaduna State Cricket Team are scheduled to land at Entebbe International Airport on July 16 for a nine-day tour that shall end on July 24.
Seven Yellow Greens
The Nigerians, whose side comprises of seven Yellow Greens (national players) that were part of the senior side that took part in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty20 World Cup Africa Final 2019 in Kampala during the month of May, will play four matches; two T20 and two 50-Over matches, against Uganda’s Under 19 and Under 23 sides at Lugogo Cricket Ground and the University Oval in Kyambogo.
In the past, the senior Nigerian side has visited Kampala but this will be the first time a State side makes a trip to the Pearl of Africa. During their last outing here in Kampala, Nigeria punched above their weight with a third-place finish at the continent’s version of the T20 Africa Cup enroute as they notched a better placing that Uganda in the rain-marred showpiece.
The tours to nations that are ‘seemingly’ better in cricket are helping the Nigerians improve their cricket. They were able to qualify for the ICC Under 19 World Cup slated for next year in South Africa, after they made competitive tours to Uganda in 2018 and Zimbabwe earlier this year before the tournament. The Junior Yellow Greens went on to edge pre-tournament favourites Namibia, who were the hosts plus East African heavyweights Uganda and Kenya to the continent’s lone slot the coveted Junior World Cup.
World Cup preps
In another development, Nigeria have vowed to leave no stone unturned in their bid to ensure they put up a decent campaign in the World Cup. NCF started early preparations with 25 selected players already camping in Kaduna State for two weeks starting from July 1 and will later head to Abuja for another camp.
The World Cup is scheduled for January 2020 in the Rainbow Nation and NCF have plans to engage in a series of pre-tournament tours to adequately prepare the team for the task ahead.
Players Invited In Camp:
1. Sylvester Okpe, 2. Isaac Danladi, 3. Emmanuel Boniface, 4. Jimoh Abdulraman 5. Elijah Olaleye, 6. Sulaimon Runsewe, 7. Miracle Ikaigbe, 8. Peter Aho, 9. Akhere Isesele, 10. Taiwo Mohammed, 11. Ifeanyi Uboh, 12. Isiaka Audu, 13. Rasheed Abolarin, 14. Samuel Mba, 15. Douglass Humble, 16. Prosper Useni, 17. Komolafe Kayode, 18. Theophilus Jeremiah, 19. Joshua Sunday, 20. Huzaifa Abdulsalam 21. Segun Omolewa, 22. Rilwan Abdulkareem, 23. Adeyanju Seun, 24. Paul Pam 25. David Agbo