Nigeria Content Online

The U-19 national
cricket team will leave Nigeria today for South Africa, and then on to
Namibia, where they will face Kenya, Botswana, Namibia, Sierra Leone,
Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia to compete for a qualification spot in the
ICC U19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2011.

The Nigerian team,
despite being the least ranked, is coached by Sean Philips, who is
doubly enthusiastic on the teams’ chances in Namibia. Philips said he
is sometimes “too excited to fall asleep,” most nights as he fantasises
about the team that went to Swaziland and blew away the opposition.
“These boys are great,” he said. “What we have been working on is
building back the team spirit, which is our greatest strength. I have
been telling them that they have to play for the team and after
Thursday’s training, I was very happy to see them leaving the pitch
together and not in groups – that means that the team is now a unit.”

Building with the help of the ICC

“The trip to South
Africa will help us bond more strongly as it did before we went to
Swaziland,” he continued. “The ICC has been very kind to us – by
letting us use their Benoni centre almost free of charge. The Nigeria
Cricket Foundation just has to provide feeding. Also, since South
Africa is the stop-over to Namibia, there is just a little extra that
we have to pay on the tickets.” Nigeria will be facing the strongest
teams on the continent with Kenya as the leading foe, but Philips is
optimistic that his team can upset the established order. “On their
day, these boys will hold their own against any other team in the world
and that is not an exaggeration,” he said. “They are good; and when
properly motivated, they are a match for any side. I just want them to
play their best. Their best is good enough for me; and I hope that we
will fulfil the expectations of Nigerians.”

The U-19 boys have been touted to be the beacon of hope for cricket
in the country; and Philips believes that: “Talking with people on the
ICC board, they know that Nigeria has the talent to become of the best
cricket nations in Africa. And as long as we continue going for this
tournaments and they see the will to improve, they are ready to come in
and help develop the talent and the infrastructure.” The team will stay
at the Benoni Cricket Centre till next Friday when they will depart for
Namibia. The ICC Africa U19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier (CWCQ) Division
will hold in Windhoek, Namibia from August 29- September 5, 2010.