11th Chuma Anosike Cup South East Cricket Tournament To Hold In Umuahia, Abia State

The famous cricket tournament that has been a household competition in the eastern part of Nigeria stages its comeback this year after hiatus because of COVID-19 pandemic

P.M. EXPRESS reports that the 11th edition of Chuma Anosike Cup: South East Cricket Tournament will hold in Umuahia, Abia State.

Initiator of the tournament, Barrister Chuma Anosike, who is the chairman of Anambra State Cricket Association and former Vice President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), is so optimistic that the tournament is back for good, as all the five states in the south east Nigeria -Abia, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and Enugu, are presenting cricketers for this year’s edition holding from 10-14 April.

The tournament, which will be held at the Sports Stadium and Girls Secondary School, both in Umuahia, will be played in league format where each state will play four matches in the male and female categories. At the end of the round robin, the first two teams would play in the finals.

The competition is having two major sponsors in the 11th edition, Milano Group and Ekulo Group of Companies

Anosike recalled that the tournament which started off years back as a developmental competition has now graduated to an elite event in the south east with the adoption of the International Cricket Council (ICC) format.

“It is essentially for senior players, but we have informed the states that they should encourage the juniors, so we are having a blend of both the junior and senior players competing in this tournament. This will enable us to achieve a sustained level of development across the states,” he said.

He expressed his happiness that players from Chuma Anosike South East Cricket Tournament have been invited to the national camps on different occasions to represent the country in international competitions, adding that in the nearest future, the bulk of the national teams players would come from the south east zone.

Speaking on the idea behind the setting up of South East Cricket Association (SECA), the umbrella body of all the five associations in the zone, Anosike said this was borne out of the need for the zone to have a one voice in Nigerian cricket family.

He emphasised that SECA is not taken the place of any state association within the zone, it is just to help maximise the opportunity derivable in the sport in the country.

“SECA is essentially to drive the grow we want to see across the zone. It is a positive development. The idea of SECA was muted during a meeting in Enugu in December last year where stakeholders overwhelmingly support the setting of such a body. A formal inauguration will soon be held where we will spell out the objectives and other information about SECA,” Anosike said.

He thanked the sponsors of the Chuma Anosike South East Cricket Tournament this year for taking the courage to identify with cricket, while also encouraging those companies which are desirous to partner with cricket in the south east of the country.