… Iyoba Girls College students exposed to game

… organisers hail Uyi Akpata

A 3-day Women Invitational Cricket Championship ended in Benin weekend with team Edo emerging champions at Iyoba Girls College in Benin City.

The championship which was the third edition, organized by Helping Hands Consultancy in collaboration with Edo State Cricket Association featured three teams from the South-South states of Nigeria – Edo, Delta and Bayelsa states.

Team Edo defeated Delta women by 9 wickets in Day One of the tournament and on the final day beat Bayelsa women by 10 wickets to emerge champions of the third edition.

During the women invitational championship, a coaching clinic was featured and held at Iyoba Girls College with over 300 students of the girls’ college in attendance and benefited from the fundamentals of the game of cricket which the coaches on ground facilitated.

Speaking with journalists during the coaching clinic, Ms. Cecilia Ejeh, Founder, Helping Hands Consultancy Ltd, said that her firm is in collaboration with the Cricket Federation and Edo State Sports Commission to improve the game of cricket in Edo State. She added that her Consultancy felt fulfilled with the impact of the coaching clinic and practical work which gave the young girls the opportunity to learn the basics of Cricket

“It was an amazing experience for us to see young athletes showcase their talents. We also had a seminar where we spoke about mental resilience in cricket and enhancing performance for female athletes, and where some athletes open up on life challenges. It was insightful and informative,” She said.

Meanwhile, the Helping Hand Consultancy Ltd boss, Cecilia Ejeh has commended the President of the Cricket Federation, and Chairman, Edo State Cricket Association, Mr. Uyi Akpata for his commitment to the growth and development of the game of cricket in Edo State and Nigeria as a whole.

Ms. Cecilia Ejeh promised that she will continue to collaborate with Edo State Cricket Association and Uyi Akpata to develop young athletes in the state, saying that she looks forward to the 4th edition of the Women Cricket Championship next year.

In a remark, the head coach of Edo State Cricket Association, Theophilus Ibodeme said that the Edo State Cricket Association is in partnership with Helping Hands Consultancy firm to help catch athletes young and expose them to the game early. He added that Iyoba College is a center for excellence in Edo State, hence their choice of place for the event.

“This is what we do all the time, organizing talent discovery cricket events for secondary school children and we have been able to raise athletes from here who now represent Edo and Nigeria at big stages,” coach Ibodeme emphasised.