NCA search for cricket expatriate

The search for a technically sound cricket coach, from without, has taken cricket authorities in Nigeria to the International Cricket Council [ICC].The move comes barely two months to the World Cup qualifiers in Namibia,nigeriasports.com exclusively reports.

         Olisa Egwuatu,a member of the Nigeria Cricket Association [NCA] disclosed that the cricket body has made a passionate plea to ICC's Regional Development Officer for Africa Hussein Ayob,for him to assist in the hiring of a cricket coach from preferably South Africa,to help in Nigeria's build-up to the event in Namibia.

         "This is a plan that has been on the drawing board for a long time,"said Egwuatu."We decided to approach the ICC through Ayob because we know he can use his influence.The plan is for the expatriate to come to Nigeria and stay possibly for one month."

          The expected coach,according to Egwuatu, will not only help in preparing the national team ahead of the  World Cup qualifiers,he will also be involved in fashioning a  veritable development programme for the NCA.

           Lack of modern playing turf and world class trainers,including an egregiously hesitant corporate sector have been the bane of cricket development in Nigeria who join other Associate Members of the ICC in Windhoeck in August to battle for a slot at the  next World Cup.

           Egwuatu,himself a coach, has been part of different technical crews both at national team and club levels.

           "We observed that most often when we travel out to participate in competitions, our boys found it difficult to adapt to the playing surface in those countries.That is why we're also asking Ayob to help us arrange a one month training tour of Kenya so that our players will be able to get used to playing on such a surface before the tournament in Namibia," he revealed.      

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