Edo Boys High School, Ugbowo, Edo State, has won the 24th edition of the Howzat National Junior Cricket League, which gave them the Philip Asiodu Trophy.
Edo Boys defeated Government College Ibadan at the final match held at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval on Saturday, while Government Model Secondary School, Asaba, Delta State, clinched the third position at the tournament organised by the Howzat Foundation For Cricket in collaboration with the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF).
The tournament, which started on Thursday and ended on Saturday, featured six secondary schools from Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Edo and Delta states.The six schools, which contested for the top prize on a round-robin basis, were Kings College, Lagos; Ansar Ud Deen Grammar School, Lagos; Edo Boys High School, Benin City; Government College, Ibadan; Government Model Secondary School, Asaba, Delta State and St. John Senior Secondary School, Ogun State.
At the end of the competition, Edo Boys High School’s Onoshagbe Joseph won the Most Valuable Player award and Best Bowler, while Emmanuel Ezegi won the Best Batman award.
The Best Fielder award went to Fatai Bello of Ansar-Ur-Deen Grammar School, while Okobi Destiny of Government Model Secondary School, Delta State, clinched the Wicket Keeper award.
Speaking after the prize presentation, the chairman of Howzat Foundation For Cricket, Prof. Frank Osato Giwa-Osagie, commended the efforts of the players and officials for the successful completion of this year’s edition.
He noted that cricket is not about knowing how to play the game but the huge character it impacts on the young ones.He urged the government to focus on other sports like cricket so that the sport will grow in Nigeria just like football and basketball.
“We started encouraging cricket right from secondary school and at the university level. It is important to note that we all cannot focus on football and that is why the government should support this sport with adequate funding.
