Ukpong Anticipates Tough Challenge in Jide Bademosi U-19 Cricket Tourney

Tournament coordinator for the First Jide Bademosi U-19 cricket tournament,Okon Ukpong foresees a tough contest among the four teams that will be taking part in the tourney meant for teams in the South West region. The tournament gets underway from tomorrow at the Liberty Stadium Ibadan.

Organisers said only four states; Lagos, Ogun, Osun and host Oyo will be represented in this maiden edition, which is an initiative of Energy and Mineral Resources(EMR) who are also the sponsors.
Team Osun have already arrived Ibadan and are training hard to ensure they get acclimatised to both the playing conditions and the facility on offer.

“They have been in Ibadan for two days now,” Ukpong said yesterday in Lagos, pointing out that Osun’s early arrival could give them an advantage over other teams from outside Ibadan.
“It is not going to be business as usual for the teams because the level of seriousness among them is high and I predict a very keen competition ahead,” he added.

As he spoke, the Lagos U-19 team was in training at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval in preparation for the tournament. Team co-ordinator and First Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Cricket Association, Barnaby Ephraim told our reporter that Team Lagos was targeting history. “We want to be the first winners of this tournament and the trophy. We will do our best to ensure we come back victorious,” he stressed.

Chairman of EMR, Seye Fadahunsi said they decided to sponsor the four-day event as part of their corporate social responsibility. “We want to provide a platform where budding cricketers will meet, socialise and foster relationship among themselves.