Ogun State Cricket Association has inaugurated a newly renovated pavilion and unveiled its male and female cricket team, ahead of the forthcoming National Sports Festival to be hosted by the State between 12th and 26th January 2024.
Chairman of the State Cricket Association, Mr Dare Kuforiji during the unveiling in Abeokuta over the weekend, said the step became necessary to affirm the readiness of the association for the Sports Festival.
Mr Kuforiji who announced that the cricket players had commenced camping ahead of other teams in the state, said the association would not leave any stone unturned to achieve the set goals of winning more medals for the state during the biennial sporting event.
The Cricket Association chairman acknowledged the contributions of members of the association to ensure that the access road to the pavilion which he said was impassable became motorable to restore sanity to the place.
Kuforiji who noted that the sum of N30 million was expended for the upgrade of the facility, restated the determination of the association to the development of cricket in the state.
"Our association invested around N30 million in these renovations, all raised independently," he stated. "We built the access road, replaced the roofing, and secured the pavilion with private security to prevent future vandalism," he revealed
He later announced the association's preliminary squad for both male and female teams with symbolic presentation of kits to the players in preparation for the 2024 National Sports Festival
Below are the names of the squad
Female squad members:
1. Bakare Kehinde
2. Bakare Taiwo
3. Ogundele Ololade
4. Oduntan Sukurat
5. Oridota Omoyeni
6. Osaghale Elizabeth
7. Onoh Cynthia
8. Olaleye Fatimat
9. Oyeku Abayomi
10. Sunday Olubi
11. Jeremiah Joy
12. Oladejo Victoria
13. Ologuntoye Morenikeji
14. Adedeji Mary
15. Shittu Aisha
16. Habibat Oremeji
17. Olukayode Ayomiposi
18. Gbananja Finda
19. Olisa Mariam
20. Anthony Victoria
21. Awaji Rebecca
22. Abdullahi Naffysat
Female team officials: Akiyade Segun Gbenga, Balogun Adepoju, and Anofiu Salako.
Male squad members:
1. Adebiyi Usman
2. Olayemi Gbenga
3. Obisesam Afeez
4. Adu Bimbo
5. Chuku James
6. Ogunbayo Dayo
7. Adebayo Wasiu
8. Olayinka Segun
9. Oridota Omotayo
10. Olayinka Tope
11. Odesanya Abiodun
12. Ajeku Daniel
13. Segun Ogundipe
14. Femi Oduyebo
15. Abolarin Rasheed
16. Tunde Ayinde
17. Mubarak Beki
18. Gbenga Balale
19. Udekwe Chimelie
20. Okeke Izuchu
21. Adedeji Sessan
Male team officials: Raheem Fata, Adegbola Yemi, Ogunlola Joshua, and Ajeku Daniel.
The male and female teams will be reduced from 22 to 16 players following trials, with the strongest candidates selected to form the state's final team for T20, six-a-side, and ODI (50 overs) competitions at the games.
Kuforiji expressed optimism about Ogun's prospects at the 2024 National Sports Festival, saying the association's target is to win six medals at the games
The Chairman recalled the growth in the game of cricket since the last time Ogun hosted in 2006, when the team won a gold and a silver medal.
"We are aiming for a minimum of three gold medals," he affirmed.
"We’re prepared to fund our camp for the coming weeks, but we’re hopeful the official state camp will start soon to help alleviate some of the financial burden," Kuforiji added.
He assured that there would be regular competitions at the new pavilion, as a way of keeping the facility active all year-round, including the off-season.
According to Kuforiji, plans are underway to introduce amenities that could sustain regular activity at the pavilion, including a proposed bar area to draw more visitors and encourage continuous use of the space.
“We’ve learned from past experiences. By ensuring a regular presence here, we aim to maintain the pavilion’s upkeep and build momentum for cricket in Ogun,” he added.
Cricket was listed as one of the seven optional events for the games when the federal ministry of sports released the list on 14 October 2024.
The Ogun State team will return to all six disciplines after missing the last edition in Delta due to qualification issues.
Key stakeholders in the sports industry including veteran sportswriter, Deacon Kunle Oluwusi were part of the ceremony
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