Egwuatu unveils Aso Cricket

The soon to be launched grassroots cricket project tagged 'Aso Cricket', is the key to achieving a successful development programme as it will be used to create a large base of young cricketers from all communities, an executive board member of the Nigeria Cricket Association [NCA] has explained.

            Olisa Egwuatu who is the co-ordinator of the Aso Cricket programme told nigeriasports.com in an interview Friday, that the initiative is fashioned after the Bakers mini-cricket festival in South Africa and Kanga Cricket in Australia.

           "Aso Cricket is the name of the grassroot  development programme targetted essentially at primary schools," he began."It is the  product of a partnership between the NCA and the Mobile Telecommunication Network[MTN].Basically, Aso Cricket will give all young children opportunity of being exposed to the game of cricket."

           Participation and enjoyment, according to Egwuatu, form the theme of the event which holds May 29 at Nigeria's mecca of cricket, the Tafawa Balewa Square Oval in Lagos.

           Hundreds of boys and girls from selected primary schools in the Lagos environ are being encouraged to take part in the catch-them-young programme.

           Already a team of experienced youth coaches have been coaching in the schools to prepare the kids for the programme.The coaches also work in conjuction with Games Masters at the various schools.

           Said Egwuatu:"There will be a mini-cricket competition on the launch day as well as coaching clinics for the kids.All these will be done in a relaxed manner and an atmosphere of fun and laughter.

           "Aso Cricket will be built on three major pillars.These are competition and training of children, training of coaches and provision of equipment.

           "Part of the initial pilot scheme is the donation of bats-shapes and wooden wickets to 20 selected schools in Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos State."

           He further disclosed that the launching of the pilot scheme for Aso Cricket in Lagos is only an apetiser for a much more bigger project.

           "We do hope that the sponsors will agree to a more sustainable nationwide,on-going and verifiable developmental programme that is tied to a number of years.The success of nxt Saturday will convince them of this need," he surmised.   

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