Nigeria: No ICC application; Funding prevents West African participation

'Beyond The Test World's' Nigerian correspondent, Kepsi Sagoe, reports on recent developments in Nigerian cricket

"On the issue of Associate status by Nigeria on a standalone basis, discussion has been on for sometime. The current position is as follows:

At the 1997 West African Cricket Conference (WACC) Annual General Meeting, the issue was tabled by Nigeria and discussed. The AGM resolved to positively support Nigeria's desire for the bid.

In 1999 in a meeting the NCA held with the then ICC Development Manager, Ross Turner and the Development Officer for Africa, Hoosain Ayob it was decided that a framework of action be drawn up with the view of submitting our application in December 2000 for consideration in June 2001 which will give us an opportunity to upgrade our cricketing infrastructure to a relative standard.

As a result June 2000 is not realistic considering the above.

For the first time since the competition began in 1976, Nigeria may not be represented on the field at the West African Championships as the delay in the approval of the year 2000 budget affected the release of funds for the team to participate.

Nigeria is both the chairman of the body and serves as the Secretariat. The country still presided at the yearly AGM which is held during each quadrangular.

Funding of cricket has become a major challenge to the NCA in view of the cost of participating in both regional and continental championships. The few sponsors available will prefer supporting a local program where the value of the support can be maximised.

Considering that the NCA will still approach the Ministry of Sports for funds for the ACA championship in Kenya (August/September), it is not unlikely that the ministry opts for one of these exposures rather than both.

So far a number of foreign programs by other sporting associations has been affected by the non-release of the year 2000 budget.

Foundation Cricket Club(FCC) of Lagos continued its dominance of Nigerian club cricket by clinching the inaugural edition of the Ogun State National Six-a-Side championship.

In the final match of the 3-day tournament, FCC beat Dyaks Cricket Club also of Lagos by 67 runs in the 10-over competition. FCC scored 90 runs whilst Dyaks were restricted to a mere 23 runs.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the championship, the chairman of the State association, Mr Ladipo Idowu said the competition was the beginning of good things to come as far as cricket in the state is concerned.

He announced that a league will soon be introduced to sharpen the skills of cricketers in existing clubs and schools.

Fourteen clubs took part in the Easter fiesta including Ahmadu Bello University(ABU), Shell Club of Port Harcourt, Ogun Rocks and Government College Ibadan Old Boys(GCI)."