FCT Schools Cricket Development Festival, an initiative of Cricket Club of Abuja under the auspices of the Nigerian Cricket Federation, NCF, introduced the theme “Sustain Cricket In Government Secondary Schools In The Federal Capital Territory†during its second edition held in Abuja, Nigeria recently.
The programme first held in December 2009 with about 80 children from four FCT schools in attendance, had over 165 children from 10 schools in Abuja participating in the event.
The developmental programme which was held at the National Stadium Complex, Abuja, had 15 volunteer coaches with five of them from Kaduna tutored the kids the rudiment of the game under the guidance of Development Manager, Nigeria Cricket Federation, NCF, Endurance Ofem; Programme Manager, Cricket Confederation of Africa,CCA, Telema Daregoe and Schools Development Programme founder, Richard Pembroke.
During the programme, the participating students were taught the basic skills of catching, fielding, throwing, holding and swinging a bat.
Also at the festival the FCT Schools Kwik Cricket World Cup competition was organised. Twenty  teams from 10 schools (two teams per school) were divided into two groups to play matches in round robin formats.
When Government Secondary School, Karo and Army Day Secondary School, Asokoro clashed at the the finals played in front of a large crowd, Army Day Secondary School won the tournament defending their impressive 53 run total by just 8 wickets.
Daramola Seun of Government Secondary School, Karo emerged the Player of the tournament, leading the scorer cart with 22 runs.
The schools that took part in the event include Federal Government College, Kwali, Army Day Secondary School, Asokoro, Government Secondary School, Kwali and Federal Government Boys College, Apo.
Others are Government Secondary School, Nyanya, Federal Science & Technology College, Whiteplains British School, Jabi, Loyola Jesuit College, Gida Mongoro, Modern Secondary School, Maitama, Abuja and Government Secondary School, Tundun Wada, Wuse.
—Wale Joseph
