The pace for the development of Cricket in Nigeria especially Imo State has taking off on a good note with lots of commendation as the maiden edition of the Ajaelu’s Cup for Cricket Clubs in Imo State came to an end on Sunday at the Government Secondary School, Owerri Cricket pitch.
The event produced Rising Stars as champions after defeating Boundary Stars 78inings to 77inings. Chasing 77 runs, the Rising Stars who had Commissioner Ajaelu in their team, won by 6 wickets in 8.2 overs as against 77 runs in 20 overs for 8 wickets of the Boundary Stars.
City Strikers Cricket Club had in the 3rd place match defeated Six Masters Cricket Club by 133 runs all-out against 56 runs all-out for Sixers.
In his address during the closing ceremony which was witnessed by a mammoth crowd, the sponsor of development event and the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Public Safety, High Chief Rodney Ajaelu said Cricket is a gentle man’s game and that the tournament was a unique one because it is the first of its kind as the teams that competed for honours where mixed male and female.
While calling on private individuals and companies to join hands with his ministry to develop sports and return back glory days, Ajaelu disclosed his intention of setting up a Cup for the female U-17 Cricket Championship for the South East in the near future to further enhance the development of the game.
Dr Alloy Uchenwa, Imo State Prisons Comptroller who commended the State Sports Commissioner for setting the pace for the development of sports at the grass root level used the opportunity to reveal his plans to hold a sports week programme for inmates at the state prisons that will also include cricket. Dr Alloy also insisted that future stars can be discovered from the sports week event maintaining that since most of the inmates are made up of youths the need to engage them in such activities as a means of correcting their life becomes eminent.
Also, the State Comptroller in charge of Immigration, Lady Nneka Uchendu expressed her satisfaction over the keen interest exhibited by the young girls and boys who took part in the 4 day event suggesting that it will help to reduce the craze for our youths to travel abroad when properly harnessed.
Appreciating the land mark achievement of High Chief Ajaelu, the Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Public Utility, Hon Obinna Nshirim described the event as one of the success stories of rescue mission government under Owelle Okorocha adding that his Ministry will work together with his counterpart to create the awareness.
Cricket Development Gets Boost With Ajaelu’s Cup ..As State Immigration, Prisons Comptrollers Laud Effort
