NAN-S-5
Cricket
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Afikpo (Ebonyi), Feb. 2 , 2017 NAN) An ex-Nigerian Cricket International, 82-year-old Prof. Omaka Oko, on Thursday donated cricket equipment worth N2.5 million to the Government Secondary School, Afikpo in Ebonyi.
The equipment include cricket balls, bats, jerseys, headguards, abdominal guards, leg pads and special gloves.
Omaka, a retired pediatrician, noted that he was the first cricket captain of the college in the late 1940s when the school among other government colleges across the country, was reputed for cricket and hockey.
“I and other youngsters in the school were influenced to play cricket by our first principal, Winston Low, an Australian.
“I later gained admission into the prestigious King’s College, Lagos, on government scholarship and improved on my form because cricket was the number one sport in the school.
“I immediately made the school’s first team, later became its captain and enrolled in the Lagos Amateur Cricket Club.
“I subsequently attracted the attention of national team selectors and represented the country in regional competitions, especially those involving Ghana, all in the 1950’s,” he said.
He noted that the fortune of cricket in the country was affected by what he called the non-consolidation of the sport’s past glories and the high cost of administering it.
“Cricket was one of the elite games played in the country in the 1950s and 1960s especially by expatriates who played and offered coaching tutorials.
“It started during the colonial government-owned and missionary schools as the present day school administrators do not have the requisite knowledge to administer it,” he said.
Igwe Ewa Elechi, the traditional ruler of Ohaisu Autonomous Community in Afikpo, commended the octogenarian-donor and noted that it would help the school to maintain its reputation as a cricket-playing school and also help its dominance of the sport.
He said:“The donor was my Government College,Afikpo, classmate and school’s cricket teammate in the late 1940s and I am amazed that his love for the sport has not waned since then.”
The traditional ruler remarked that cricket’s reputation nosedived in Nigeria because most school principals did not have the experience and commitment toward the sport.
“That is why the interest in cricket waned as the principals who are supposed to promote it in schools are only interested in less tasking sports such as football, athletics among others.
“Cricket contrary to the notion in the country is a lucrative sport which is exemplified by the passion and revenue that accrued in the test-matches by India, Pakistan, Wales, among others.”
He called on relevant sports authorities in the country to pay more attention to sports particularly cricket.
“Sponsors should avail themselves of the opportunities the sport provides as more awareness should be created for it by the media instead of paying attention to only football.
“The authorities should revive the game in schools where talents are discovered for a return to its hey-days when it (cricket) provided employment, fun and brought glory to the country,” he said.
The Principal of the School, Mr John Ulu, commended the donor for the gesture and urged the students to emulate his passion for the sport in spite of his age and pedigree.
“We will maintain our status as a top cricket-playing school in the South-East. I will ensure that the equipment will be well maintained.”
The school’s cricket team practised with the equipment under the supervision of veteran Oko and other cricket enthusiasts. (NAN)
RCO/OIF/DA
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Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Dele Akinsola