The maiden FCT Secondary Schools Holiday Cricket Championship got underway on Friday in Abuja, with two games being played and involving four of the six participating schools.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day championship,which is also tagged the “President Cup’’, is being organised by the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF).
Of the six schools taking part in the event at the Abuja National Stadium, four are from the FCT, while one team each are from Niger and Kwara.
Government Secondary School (GSS) Odu-Okon in Kwara defeated GSS Karu in Abuja in the first match of the championship.
The FCT side batted first and scored a total of 16 runs in 10 overs with all wickets out, while the Kwara team came in to chase and take the game.
This was after scoring 17 runs in 2 overs to win by nine wickets.
In the second match of the day, JSS Kabusa in Abuja defeated GSS Tumga of Niger.
Kabusa batted first and scored 39 runs in 9.2 overs with all wickets out, while Tumga scored 32 runs in 10 overs, with Kabusa eventually winning by seven runs.
Speaking on the event, Ehis Uadiele, NCF’s Acting Regional Development Officer (RDO), North Central, told the NAN that the championship was aimed at keeping students busy during the holiday period.
He said the event was supposed to be organised for only FCT schools but that the federation later decided to invite other schools from outside the territory.
“We have four schools from FCT and one each from Kwara and Niger participating in this programme.
“We want to keep the kids busy during the holidays and also try to revive the spirit of the game in them,” the RDO said.
NAN reports that the championship which began on Friday is expected to end on Saturday.