Former board member of Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) Okon Ukpong has urged former colleagues and other stakeholders in the game to work towards revitalizing the growth of the game in the country.
Speaking in Ibadan, Ukpong a former south west Zonal Coordinator of the body said members are not doing anything to develop the game at the grassroots hence the need for them to brace up.
He explained that he was already going to schools in Ibadan and its environs to re energize the growth of the game adding that it was disheartening that his predecessors did nothing following his departure as the Oyo state Chairman and the south west coordinator.
The former captain of Nigeria cricket team between 1975 and 1985 said that his greatest joy is that he had discovered and nurtured many players into the Nigeria national team from Ibadan .
He posited that there is a decline in growth because most administrators in the game except for a few have no vision and foresight stressing that most are just there for their own interest.
Ukpong said further the decline in the fortunes of cricket in the south west zone dimmed because there was no competition while there was no concrete step towards providing equipment for the use of the players.
To this end, the former NCF board member revealed that he would embark on the purchase of equipment worth millions of naira as he did in the past outside ensuring that he revamped previous competitions that threw up many talent in the past.
The former Oyo state cricket Association boss lamented that it was a pity that the fortune of cricket took a dive for the worst within his eight years at the helms of affairs pointing out that he had return to his past practice of encouraging new cricketers with his money and resources arguing that the economic situation in the nation requires that they be supported with equipment and funds since they would have to recreate and refresh each time they come for practice and competitions.
Ukpong disclosed that he would be embarking on visits to Indian companies around with the aim of getting their sponsorship of the game through competitions and tournaments noting that he has plans to develop cricket ovals which are located at Government College Ibadan and two others secondary schools where cricket is being played during school hours.
He however advised the NCF to allow equipment supply from the international cricket body to get to the states and the zones even if funds from it can not reach them arguing that with this, the growth of the game would be stimulated at the grassroots level where talent abound in plenitude.
