Kenya host Nigeria Cricket team

The Nigerian senior cricket team would have a seven-day build-up in Nairobi,Kenya preparatory to their departure to Zambia for the ICC World Cup Series Regional Qualifier in Lusaka. Nigeriasports.com can report.

The 14-man team comprised of ten home and four foreign-based cricketers had since bowled-off their preparations at home under the tutelege of Coach Olisa Egwuatu and South African expatriate Moses Mataboge.

Hoosain Ayob,ICC's Regional Development Officer for Africa,who facilitated the export of Mataboge to Nigeria is also behind the arrangement for the Nigerian team to train in Kenya.

"I must tell you the Nigeria Cricket Association is very gratefull to Ayob for all the assistance he's rendered,"Egwuatu told nigeriasports.com."He's a man very much interested in the growth of cricket in Nigeria."

The trip to Nairobi will afford the Nigerian squad an opportunity to get used to modern playing facilities,similar to what is obtainable in Lusaka,venue of the World Cup event in Zambia.

"Most of our players,the home-based in particular,are used to playing on concrete.But what they have out there in Lusaka is the turf,so we thought of exposing them to the facility before the tournament proper,"explained the Nigerian coach.

The team,it was disclosed,will jet out to Kenya on July 23 and eventually leave for Zambia on July 31.

Nigeria will along with Botswana,Namibia,Tanzania,Uganda and host Zambia contest for two available tickets to the next phase of the World Cup qualifiers billed for Ireland in 2005.   

  

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