Nigeria Cricket Federation Prepares to Unveil New High-Performance Coach
The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has announced that it will soon name a replacement for Steve Tikolo, the former head coach and high-performance manager who recently stepped down from his role. Tikolo, a Kenyan national, served Nigeria for three years, during which the country's ICC T20 ranking improved significantly from 42nd to 37th. According to the NCF, Tikolo resigned due to personal family responsibilities and has since rejoined the Uganda national team.
Building on a Strong Foundation
In an interview with The Guardian in Lagos, NCF President Uyi Akpata revealed that the federation has concluded plans to introduce the new high-performance manager. Akpata emphasized that the NCF is taking a careful approach to this appointment, mindful of Nigeria's status as one of the fastest-rising cricket nations globally. "We are going to announce the new Head Coach/High Performance Manager in a couple of days, and it's someone we'll all be excited about because he's into all-round development," Akpata stated.
He praised Tikolo for his contributions, noting that the Kenyan coach brought a new impetus to Nigerian cricket. "We will always be grateful to Tikolo for all he did during his time here, and the best way to show that gratitude is to continue to work hard to improve further in the game," Akpata added. The new coach will collaborate with local coaches on a structured program, with the ultimate goal of qualifying as Africa's representative in the World Cup within the next few years.
Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships
To achieve this ambition, the NCF is implementing strategies such as pitting Nigerian teams against top international sides. Recently, the federation hosted an invitational women's T20i tournament featuring world-class teams from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Ghana, and Nigeria. Additionally, the national team is set to participate in the annual Kwibuka Tournament in Rwanda, which attracts Africa's best teams and competitive European sides. "We want to go to Rwanda and show that we can win it there," Akpata enthused. "There will be some other European teams coming for that tournament. So, we must demonstrate that we can mix it with the world's best."
Akpata highlighted the youth of Nigeria's national team players, particularly the women, most of whom are under 19 years old. He also mentioned a partnership with South Africa that helps build player profiles, with some Nigerian players relocating to South Africa to compete against top stars. However, he acknowledged that poor funding remains a significant challenge for cricket development in Nigeria.
Funding Challenges and Sponsorship Drives
The NCF receives approximately $980,000 annually from the International Cricket Council (ICC), but Akpata noted this is insufficient to meet all needs. "There are many people who think that it is big money, but it is not big money for me. I can tell you that at the moment, each member of the board spends his own money on cricket," he explained. The federation is actively seeking corporate sponsors to adopt teams and support travel and operational costs.
Akpata detailed the NCF's efforts to provide stability for players, including a central contract system that ensures monthly salaries even during off-seasons and a health plan. "We have had situations where we've sent teams to India for over a month, even way before tournaments. We have always had situations where we've had batters go spend three or four weeks in South Africa; go to Zimbabwe, spend one, two, three months there playing their leagues," he said, emphasizing the value of such partnerships.
He concluded by underscoring the NCF's value proposition to potential sponsors, pointing to Nigeria's participation in two World Cups in nine years as evidence of progress. "From what we have done, we have seen that we are not far from the top cricket countries. And that is why today you have South Africa wanting to come to Nigeria; you have Zimbabwe and Namibia wanting to come to Nigeria," Akpata remarked, highlighting the ongoing media and sponsorship efforts aimed at supporting player development.
