The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has called on the Anambra government to pay special interest in the game of Cricket and provide requisite facilities for it to develop in the state.
The Chairman of SWAN, Anambra Chapter, Tony Oji, made the call during the celebration of 57th Anniversary of SWAN in Awka over the weekend, with the theme “Deepening the Knowledge of the Game of Cricket”.
According to Oji, Cricket is a popular sport in Anambra and a force to reckon with in the comity of Cricket playing states in the country but lack a facility where they could operate.
He regretted that Anambra Cricket Association (ACA) has had to rely on few schools which had supported the game and had helped to develop players in Anambra.
The chairman said the idea behind the focus on Cricket was to expand the scope of members’ reportage skills to enable them become more specialized in their job.
“Cricket is a great game in Anambra and Nigeria, as a matter of fact, it is one of the popular sports in Anambra after football and athletics.
“Painfully, there is no Cricket Oval in the state where Cricketers can play their game. “On our part as sports writers, we have chosen Cricket as a game in focus so that our members can brush up their knowledge of the game, and gain mastery of reporting it in order to promote the game,” he added.
The acting coach of the Anambra Cricket team, Ugochukwu Umeh led participants to the Cricket pitch for practical training and explanation of the game at the Bishop Crowther Seminary Oval in Awka.
On his part, Chairman of ACA, Chuma Anosike, lauded sports writers for deeming it necessary to give cricket the right attention it deserved.
Anosike who was represented by his secretary said Anambra was the best cricket playing state in the South east geo-political zone and third in Nigeria, but regretted that the game did not have a home in the state.
He promised to continue to support the game and enjoined SWAN to sustain the good work of giving fair attention to all games.
