Sports
Excitement, As 5th edition of PwC Cricket Championship commences Today
Joel Ajayi
The stage is now set as 5th Edition of the Nigeria Cricket Federation in collaboration with PricewaterhouseCoopers PwC National U-17 Cricket Tournament finals as representatives of six geo-political zones set to rumble in Abuja from today’s Thursday to be climax on Sunday.
The game will be played at Cricket Ovals inside Moshood Abiola National Stadium package B Abuja where expectations is very high as many talents will be discover.
The six geo political zones which includes, South-East, North-Central, South- South, North-West, North-East and South-West.
Speaking in a Press briefing ahead of the event on Wednesday in Abuja, the Secretary General of Nigeria Cricket Federation, NCF, Sani Muhammed who represented the President of Nigeria Cricket Federation Uyi Akpata revealed that Federation’s target is to get more children into the game of cricket.
“This partnership with Pwc has helped many young people in Nigeria where many of them have been taken off the street to find life through cricket.”
He commended PricewaterhouseCoopers, PwC, for the support of the tourney that is motivating the Federation to do more for the development of cricket in the country.
“Your commitment, your partnership has been a major source of motivation for NCF.
”You all are aware that PwC has been supporting and the government is supporting they’re working hand in hand. All hands on deck we appreciate people that are supporting grassroots development and today some of the talents discovered in this tourney are now making country proudtMajority of the elite athletes that are in the national teams today, are from the grassroot level, so once more would like to thank PwC for a long, long time partnership that we had with them. Government is always here to give you more support or whatever means to see that this program goes on.
Speaking also, the representative of PwC, Mr Tolu Adeleke, said PWC target is to discover more talents that will be the best in the world.According to him the sponsorship is part of their corporate responsibility in empowering youths and taking them off the street.
“We are excited to be here again, we have been doing this for years to help the young Nigerians boys and girls.“Our goal at PwC is to solve societal problems, giving hope to the hopeless as well as getting the children off the street and giving them life.
“And we have seen tremendous growth in the game over the years, there were improvement in the number of states that take part as well as an increased in the number of players, We are happy to see talents developed over the years we will not relent we shall continue to get more talent developed.
“It been a great journey, we want the journey to continue as long as we are seeing positive change in the life of children.” He said
While giving report on the growthand developmentof the tournament, the NCF Tournament Manager Bode Musa Ehizoje enumerated positive impacts of the tournament in the last four years as the number of participating states keep increasing.
He said for male it was 19 states that started but today 33 states while in Female category 29 states took part in the tourney.It will be recalled that, South Male and Female team showed sheer dominance in the competition, energed winner of 2023 edition.
It was the fourth consecutive win for the ladies and the third for the male team.
Sports
From Boardroom To Battlefield: Corporate Giants Trade Deals For Goals As Third Edition Of Corporate Stars League Kicks Off
Joel Ajayi
Ten corporate giants are preparing to swap boardroom meetings, spreadsheets and strategy decks for football boots, tactical battles and bragging rights as the Corporate Stars League returns with a promise of fierce competition, corporate networking and business deals that could extend beyond the touchline.
For five weekends, beginning Saturday, October 24, 2026, participating organisations will battle for supremacy on the pitch, where boardroom influence counts for little without teamwork, skill, determination and the ability to find the back of the net.
This year, new contenders have thrown their hats into the ring, hoping to dethrone defending champions Norrenberger and prevent them from making it back-to-back titles.
But Norrenberger are not surrendering their crown without a fight. Their representative, Victor Olamide Mattews, insists the champions are ready to defend their title, warning challengers that stopping them will be no easy task.
The company’s ambition to simplify wealth creation and champion inclusive financial solutions appears to extend beyond the financial market, with the champions eager to establish their dominance on the football pitch as well.
Telecommunications giant MTN, whose slogan is “Everywhere You Go,” will also be looking to make a stronger impression after falling short last season. Their representative, Abubakar Bako says the team is returning with renewed determination, hoping to improve its performance and ensure that this time, its presence is felt across the competition.
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) is also taking its reach beyond financial statements and revenue collection to test its strength on the pitch. But whether its reform-driven approach can translate into football success remains another ball game entirely.
Meanwhile, the representative of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (PI-CNG & EV), David Idakwo, says although this is the organisation’s first appearance in the competition, the team is ready to learn and challenge established conventions.
Similarly, Hassan Haruna of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) says the organisation hopes to translate its financial discipline into tactical precision, sound decision-making and a winning performance on the pitch.
Then comes Beer and Barn, ready to bring its own flavour to the contest. Beyond the football, the hospitality brand offers grilled pub meals, shawarma, live-band performances and energetic DJ nights. Its representatives will hope to make their presence felt on the pitch as much as they do in the entertainment and hospitality scene.
However, the competition is not just about goals, celebrations and corporate bragging rights. With the Nigeria Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), the Pension Commission (PenCom) and Jaiz Bank also among the participating organisations, the banter is already gathering momentum.
From playful jibes about power supply and infrastructure to pension benefits, investment decisions and corporate expansion, the pre-tournament exchanges have added another layer of excitement to a competition where professional rivalries will temporarily give way to football banter.
But when the whistle blows, the real talking will have to be done with the ball. Every misplaced pass, missed chance and defensive lapse could prove costly, while a moment of brilliance could separate champions from challengers.
Speaking after the draws and unveiling of the teams, 5Stars Operations Manager, Misal Dikko, said this year’s edition promises a higher level of competition, with more participating teams and increased expectations from corporate management.
“We are going to have an interesting competition, especially with the number of participating teams and the level of expectations from management. They have shown they are ready to put their money where their mouth is by supporting their teams with all the necessary logistics,” Dikko said.
With ten corporate teams preparing to battle over five weekends, the Corporate Stars League promises more than football. It is a meeting point for competition, camaraderie, networking and business opportunities.
For the defending champions, the mission is to protect their crown. For the challengers, it is a chance to rewrite the story. And for every team, the ultimate objective is clear: turn corporate ambition into football glory.
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