Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) president, Dr Uyi Akpata has expressed confidence in the country’s junior female team to excel at next year’s global championship, because he believes they are ‘a group of talented young stars’ who can make the nation proud.
Sports247 reports that Akpata made the declaration while announcing a reward of academic scholarships for every member of the squad, Junior Female Yellow Greens, following their qualification for next year’s ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Japan.
Akpata added that the players were granted scholarships up to university level because the NCF wants them to keep education on one side of their hearts, even as they prepare to make Nigeria proud in the country’s second outing at the U19 Women’s T20 Mundial.
While recalling the Yellow Greens’ debut in Malaysia, Akpata explained that the federation wants the players to continue excelling academically, as they also develop their talents in cricket, for which he urged them to keep raising the bar and never rest on their laurels.
He recalled that Nigeria finished sixth at the U19 World Cup in Malaysia, but projected that it would be a better story next year, because the current team will be spurred by experience, adequate preparation, improved support and a renewed commitment to boost their talent.
“The first time when we went, we did not have any experience. We didn’t know what to expect, and we came sixth. So what do we expect this time? We know what to expect, we are better prepared, and we have a group of talented young stars,” Akpata enthused.
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