Sports
How PwC Sponsorship initiative is helping Cricket growth In Nigeria-Akpata
Joel Ajayi
President of Cricket Federation NCF Uyi Akpata has applauded the effort of PricewaterhouseCoopers PwC for sponsoring the Under 17 tournament over the years in the country saying the initiative is no doubt given mileage to the cricket in the country.
President who was represented by the Vice President Wale Obalola stated at the just concluded PwC/NCF Under-17 Cricket National Championships in Abuja.
He stated that the sponsorship is no doubt giving mileage to the Development of Cricket Federation in the country.
According to him, on behalf of the board I we thanked our sponsor PwC this is the fourth edition and their sponsors initiative is giving cricket mileage in Nigeria.
“Every year, we experience great improvement, innovations that are bringing growth and development to the game of cricket in the country, we are seeing players coming in from remote places that don’t even play cricket to the podium finish, this is great and we are grateful.”
Speaking also, the Representative of PwC Mr Tolu Adeleke, said the joy of the company is to see many Young Nigerians growing to achieve their purpose in Life.“Our purpose in PwC is building trust, I think the tournament is like a pool where players are discovered for the national teams.
“The competition is a way of developing talents, young stars that will ultimately play at under 19 and 20, we have seen a positive impact on players coming here getting exposed, getting exposed to the principles, and meeting people in cricket. That is one of the reasons why at PwC we vow to continue the collaboration for more talent to be discovered.”
He pledged that come next year PwC will also bring a lot of innovations that will put a smile on the faces of many young Nigerian who have no hope.
Meanwhile at the end of 4th edition of the tournament, Male and Female teams from the South-South region emerged the winner of 2023 edition of PwC/NCF Under-17 Cricket National Championships in Abuja.South/south boys defeated their counterparts from North West as their females beat the South/East region respectively.
It’s the fourth consecutive win for the ladies and the third for the male team.For females, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) was presented to Piety Lucky of South/South. As Unity Ogboe from South/Emerges Most valuable player for the boy.
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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