The Nigeria Cricket Federation has formally signed a contract with top players in the male and female national teams. The signing was done yesterday, at the ongoing NCF Women’s T20i Invitational tournament at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval in Lagos.
At the ceremony, the President of the Federation, Uyi Akpata, said the move was necessary to stabilize and give players some measure of incentive to keep and even raise their form.
According to him, “This is one step we have worked on so much to be able to bring stability to the team and encourage our players to be able to keep their relevance on the national team. This contract is for both the male and female national team players and we are hoping it encourages them and more importantly becomes the springboard for sustainable team building.”
Blessing Etim, who has led the female “Yellow-Green” of Nigeria to their third straight win at the ongoing event was joined by the male team captain, Sylvester Okpe, event.
Akpata added that the contract is on three levels, one that recognises members of the team who are pursuing a professional cricket career, adding that another contract recognises those not fully decided on professionalism or have other pursuits, and the third is for young players who are in school.
“The contract is hoped to help the players to have resources to leverage on for the demands that being on a national team put on them. They can on their own pay for gym sessions, be on proper diets, and at least meet basic needs required of them as national team players.”
Akpata, said a total of eighteen players are on this first phase of the contract while the second phase will bring on board fourteen additional players by July 1st, 2023.
Speaking on behalf of the players Sylvester Okpe, the national male team Captain, said that he sees this as a major milestone for him and his colleagues and this challenges them to do more and encourages them to be more focused.
“I think the players on this contract know that this demands a bit more consistency of form and requires us to do more whenever we are called upon.” The contract will be renewed after one year term for all of the players.
