ABUJA – The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) on Monday appealed to the National Sports Commission (NSC) to include cricket in the forthcoming National Sports Festival (NSF).
The 19th National Sports Festival will hold from Nov. 27 to Dec. 10, in Calabar.
The President of NCF, Emeka Onyeama, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that no games should be pushed aside.
He said even the sports that were not counted as relevant sports in Nigeria still had their international pathway that could get youths employed if taken as a career.
Onyeama urged the commission to make NSF open to all sports, including cricket, adding “they will be shocked at the other sports that many youths have interest in.
“We will continue to plead with the National Sports Commission (NSC) to use their position, their own platform, to make sure that all games are represented at the National Sports Festival.
“Everybody cannot be a footballer or be in athletics, each sport has its international pathway.
“Even the least important sport has its international bodies with the potential that can give someone a career.
“Crickets and every other sport that is not represented in NSF should be included to help our youths to develop their game of interest,’’ he said.
Onyeama said the NSF was the only national avenue where new talents could be showcased, stressing that “all sports have the potential of making the country proud’’.
He said the federation was committed to sustenance of the sport in the country through its inclusion as part of the extra-curricular activity in all secondary schools. (NAN)