CSED, NCF Train 80 Cameroonian Refugees on Cricket in Cross River State

By Eric Ojo

Community Sport and Educational Development (CSED) Initiative, a frontline sport for change Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in partnership with the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), has trained 80 Cameroonian refugees on the game of cricket in Cross River State.

The three-day training which was held at the Adagom 1 playground in Ogoja Local Government Area of the state, was organized to mark this year’s edition of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP).

The IDSDP which is held annually on 6 April, presents an opportunity to recognize the positive role sport and physical activity play in communities and in people’s lives across the globe.

Sport has the power to change the world; it is a fundamental right and a powerful tool to strengthen social ties and promote sustainable development and peace, as well as solidarity and respect for all.

The United Nations has long recognized the power and universality of sport, using it to unite individuals and groups through supporting sport for development efforts, participating in events from the global to the grassroots level, and developing its own sports-related campaigns and initiatives.

At the event, 10 volunteer trainee cricket coaches were also introduced to the game of cricket for the first time. The training was supervised by Bibiana Ngwenifun, the Leader of Adagom 1 Camp, who ensured that the female folks were equally represented at the training.

The new cricket players and trainee coaches were taught the basics of cricket by NCF Development Officer, Blessing Etim and Patrick Edididong.

On day 1, the training involved the introduction of cricket to the trainees, fitness drills, basic batting, bowling and fielding drills. Notably, Day 2 of the event, featured a mixture of classroom based training and field training.

The areas covered were cricket seminar, detailed explanation of cricket laws, as well as the demonstration of batting and bowling techniques.

Interestingly, on the last day of the event, a practice game between residents of Adagom 1 and Adagom 3 was held.

Attendees at this groundbreaking event were drawn from the three camps that are based in Ogoja Local Government Area, namely: Adagom 1, Adagom 3 and Ukende.

At the end of the training, cricket starter packs for training and match purposes that were donated by Lord’s Taverners and the NCF were freely distributed to the Sports Committee Leaders of Adagom 1 and Adagom 3 Camps.

Representatives of Ukende Camp were advised that the event organisers will hold a separate training for them within the next six weeks, after they would have taken delivery of sets of cricket packs.

In his remarks at the event, the Chairman of Cross River Cricket Association, Dr Macfarlane Ejah said their association will build on the success of this training event to develop grassroots cricket in the Ogoja and Northern axis of the state.

Going forward, based on the NCF experience of using cricket to support IDPs in Uhogua Camp in Edo State, the current leadership of the NCF is expected to support their new cricket coverts by using cricket to provide them with psycho-social support, empower them in terms of using the game of cricket to learn soft skills like computing/coding, as well as promoting tolerance and respect for each other.

More importantly, living in peace and harmony with the other residents of Ogoja community, is also a priority in this regard. 

On their part, the Trustees of CSED Initiative, are currently exploring the possibility of introducing other sports (netball, table tennis, pickleball, and taekwondo) to residents of the three Cameroonian camps.

In addition, the organization also hope to take on the challenge of building a multi-purpose playing court at Ukende Camp.

“Subject to overcoming the issue of high cost of generating alternative source of electricity, as well as procuring 20 to 25 computers, CSED Initiative hopes to introduce the “Sporting Coders” programme to some residents of the three camps”, the NGO said in a statement made available to the media.

According to the statement, Ako Allan, a Cameroonian refugee and his team, are already on ground waiting to take the benefit of the Sporting Coders programme to the next level.

“This is after the Sporting Coders programme was successfully piloted in Bayelsa State, by members of the netball team of Tare Pet Montessori Group of Schools.

“CSED Initiative will soon commence discussion with the NCF on how their grassroots players can also benefit from taking part in the Sporting Coders training programme in future”, the statement further explained