 Welcome to the show plus sports special on a Saturday and today a large event of the program will go to crickets I'm a guest of comment later on the show He'll talk about his competition and what it's about. My name is Wally Scott. I've got she would you like by in the meantime? We'll discuss some crickets for now until our guests arrives and What's happening to him? Thank you very much Wally Scott. It's an absolute pleasure to be here The name you mentioned is the captain of foundation cricket club, which is the oldest club in Nigeria Peter who is a Nigerian player a bowler and a batter on October 24 2021 which was a Sunday there was a record that he created and what happened is Nigeria played a bilateral series Again serious alone. It was a sixth match bilateral series at the unit like cricket over that was a Way to launch that Cricket over that was just done by the unit like cricket alumni Which was beheaded by the president of the Nigerian Confederation, Mr. Weak, but who is also an alumnus of University of Lagos and they did it in honor of their former manager and someone that they can call their their coach Professor Adeku Koi So they now invited Sierra Lone to come down because there's been a bit of rivalry between Nigeria and Sierra Lone from time back and Peter who played the first two matches, but he wasn't convincing in the eyes of the coach a Sankha and what happened? He decided to drop him for the third and fourth match But this man you have seen on your screen came back in the fifth match And did something amazing that will go down history as a world record He bought three point four overs And he had six wickets for five runs One meeting in that three point four overs including a nuttick and you know in football when they say he scored a nuttick You scored three goals when cricket had three means you bought three consecutive balls and you had three consecutive wickets his record has just been ratified by The Guinness World Record as the best bowling figure in one day international be T20 or ODI They said his bowling statistics of six wickets for five runs in 3.5 four overs and one meeting was better than that of Chaha of India when he had a record against Bangladesh They said his record is better than that of Dinesh Nakrami of Uganda when he had Record against Lesotho. They also said his bowling statistics is better than that of a gentleman this of Sri Lanka He had almost similar record against Zimbabwe and so for me Peter who Thumbs up to you for putting idea on the world map for the positive reason. So Guinness World Record Peter who best bowling statistics in the world anywhere in the world six wickets for five runs 3.4 overs and one meeting he had to take the coach dropping him for two matches Because he didn't play the third match. He didn't play the fourth game. He now came back in the fifth and That's spurred him on to achieve that record. Still talking about Nigerian cricket, our coach An high performance manager and a World Cup winner with Sri Lanka in 1996 Who was appointed on the 1st of December of 2020 Desha Bandu Asanka Pradiguru Sinha His tenure was supposed to end in 2022 but during the Nigerian cricket federation T20 competition the Niger hosted among five countries Which Rwanda eventually won a Niger finishing second and we had countries like the Gambia, Sierra Lone and Ghana On the 30th of March, he turned that a resignation letter to the board of the Nigerian Federation that he needed to travel to Australia for his shoulder treatments. He had a shoulder problem And this news was kept by the federation Up until last weekend when they had trial matches because Nigeria is preparing for an African cricket Our station competition and also a T20 World Cup qualifier, but venue and dates here to be known So he invited 36 players into the camp and he divided them into 12 group 12 players in three groups making 36 But one consequence main that I was missing is Joshua Yonake the former captain of the national team We said he wanted to take a break from national team duties, but we have a new captain now in Sylvester Okwe now after the trial matches The norm is I wish I can see the pictures of Asanka the national team manager to you know, but rest What I'm talking about after the trial matches. They were supposed to release 24 players out of that 36 and 12 would be asked to go But unfortunately Even the selector said in the history of Nigerian cricket They have not seen a stiff competition like that those selectors the likes of James O'Parrar O'Bonaia Shea Wadeku or Ladik Boydou and Kofi Sego could not you know, that's the coach Asanka He he was at that venue that he now disclosed to a lot of people that he will be living at the end of this Month, although his contract would expire in June of 2022 He came as a root shock to a lot of people but the board of the federation knew about this thing from March when he submitted a resolution letter So he has to go for that show that but he said I will expect sitting back. He is not coming But they cannot create a lacuna. So the Nigerian cricket federation would have to appoint another coach To take over from him because we don't know when he showed up with him and they don't want to create that vacuum This man said because of the love Nigerians have shown him and The players that you are seeing it will still love to offer his expert Advice to the federation because he cuts across all the national teams all the national teams from under 17 to under 20 To the female team to everything under 19 he Supervises over them and he gives coaching Experience to all the other ones So we wish Asanka all the best in his quest to get his shoulder fixed is a walk-up winner with Sri Lanka in 1996 Quickly there is a competition that is coming up in all your states They call it the legends cup everywhere you look to there is development That's happening in cricket and what is this legend cup all about? There are four people it's like they are seasoned opener. This is a package of the other states post-cancel In collaboration with your state cricket Association So from May 7th to May 8th at the Obama family all or stadium There would be cricket matches for teams both male and female They have been selected plus friends and players of the honorees They would form a team the window For you to indicate your interest to be part of this competition will end by tomorrow because the competition starts on the 7th and 8th Now those four teams Are the four people that they want to honor. That's why they call it the legends cup We had the likes of professor G.D. Bade-Mosey who will be honored On Sunday, they have the likes of mr. Kolade Musoro Who will be honored? They have mr. Oge Alakija Who also be honored and Deborah Ogunshino. I think we have them. Yes We have the team that shows that competition. So Oge Alakija Deborah Ogunshino Professor Bade-Mosey and Mr. Kolade Musoro. These four Is where they will now pick the teams from both male and female plus their friends and that's why they said they have four teams So they will play more what looks more like a semi-final top place and then final That is the competition we are talking about that is coming up In a usage of a familiar wall or Liberty Stadium cricket over and I was speaking to the chairman of the organizing committee a bio may okay. He said Subsequently will continue to honor as more cricketers that have Invested and developed the game of cricket in south-west of your state But this first set of people professor Gde Bade-Mosey Deborah Ogunshino Oge Alakija and Kolade Musoro will be the first people that will be honored Saturday and Sunday So anybody that wants to play for them will be playing for these four teams So it seems to say that the four teams will be named If so, no of these people so you have team Gde Bade-Mosey Team Ogunshino team Musoro and team Alakija Male and female selected from all your states. So above and only your state mainly for all your state But they are friends Can also join to say they want to be part of this thing to play this competition. So trophies medals Placks will be definitely represented March May 7 and 8 next week. The venue is that place I talked about About me okay. I said this is like a precursor to the start of the cricket season in your state Okay, so for me, this is fantastic and great players have come out of your state Also to play for national team through the development cannot be over-emphasized and I say big terms Up to about me. Okay. The chairman planning committee and all those who have put this together to honor people Like we always say honor people Why they are alive not when they are gone appreciate what they have done And I think this is highly commendable. This will support some other people on to say let's do What we can do to support the growth of cricket because people will definitely on us Okay, we're still going to come back to cricket. Yeah this morning But let's look at the fact that is super Falcons will face rivals South Africa Burundi and Botswana in Group C of the 2022 women's African Cup of Nations in Morocco now in the past Falcons don't fear any foes really South Africa Botswana. We don't fear them. I Don't tell us to fear them but the only fear in all of this is that this competition is from July 2nd to 23rd right there in Morocco and South Africa have shown that they can be a turn in the flesh. We should beat Botswana We should be Burundi our last game will even be South Africa and by then we should have qualified for the Final because they have three groups the top two teams who make six plus the best two losers South Africa looks like a turn in the flesh. What am I saying this? In 2018 we played South Africa in 180 minutes. We could not even score them and I was in Ghana Though we defeated them in the final for three on penalty kicks, but in the first game of the group We were also the same group 10 B in Gatlana It's called the only goal in the fifth minute the beat Nigeria and while we met it them in the final And that was under Thomas Denneby. We could not be break them down They came to Nigeria for the Aishabu Adi Cup. They beat Nigeria at the Mobile Adi Johnson Stadium So they would always want to prove like These are at least has done a fantastic job on this team through them And I know it's gonna be a feisty competition other countries to have grown in lives and bound But more importantly Wally, I am looking at a bigger picture Which is in 2023 when New Zealand will be hosting the World Cup and I hope We'll get a ticket to the World Cup and not only getting a ticket to the World Cup We're going to make an indelible mark at the World Cup. The last time we did anything meaningful at the World Cup was back in 1999 Under Ismail Amabou what we got to the quarter final since then we've been struggling So I hope the girls can go out and give their best shot. Let's look at the EPL fixtures For this weekend up until Monday, of course, there are some tough matches Going to go double man. You don't get to play till Monday. Yeah. Yes, but there are some tough matches Saturday and Sunday Newcastle will take on Liverpool a rejuvenated Newcastle Surprisingly these two teams Have the most points in year 2022 Liverpool have the most points followed by Newcastle and that's the shocking thing and I'm talking about don't get me wrong I'm talking about from January of 2022 these two teams have the most points and Liverpool will say to themselves. We smell blood. They have done The hard work from the first leg of the semi-final of the Champions League against Villarreal 2-0 lead is an healthy lead. And I'm sure Liverpool will know that if they beat Newcastle, they go temporarily top Up until the period where Leeds United will take on Manchester City So I think Liverpool have enough in their ass now to get the better of EDIO who have done a fantastic job By taking Newcastle from that redigation, Moky Waters now into the ninth position Newcastle definitely will lose against Liverpool, but I'm sure will not come easy Quick one, Saturday against Chrysaphalas is of no much relevance, but Chrysaphalas are trying to stay off Redigation, you know, they've been having a yo-yo season Patrick Villarreal has done a fantastic job on the team, but not to where they expect and for Saturday Ravaz and Otto, you don't know which Saturday will turn up on the day they are going to play Tottenham Lister, yeah, that will be back to watch. Tottenham in 180 minutes have not had a shot on targets in their last two fixtures and they came as a surprise to everyone that in 180 minutes, they've not had a shot on targets. They don't want that fourth position to slip out of their hands, though they are fifth currently behind their North London rival, Arsenal So they know they need to get a result against Leicester City. Leicester City, I don't know what Brenda Rodgers has to be doing. He has his eyes fixedated on the semifinal second leg of the UEFA Conference League where they are playing out a one-off draw against Jose Mourinho's AS Roma. So will you rest his players for that second leg or you feel them, that he means to be seen. They are not fighting relegation and they are not going to win any title, they are not getting any European, so I think it's just best for him to focus on that semifinal where anything can see happen. West Ham is right here, that's the problem. West Ham are a boogie team. They narrowly lost against Chelsea last weekend and in the midweek, they also lost against Entran Frankfurt. They have a return leg against Frankfurt, but I can't look beyond them getting a result against Frankfurt because that's how we do them out against Olympic Lyon when they play the one-off draw at the London stadium, but they went to Lyon and beat Lyon 3-0. Frankfurt are a difficult position because Frankfurt in the last 10 matches in Europa League, they've not lost and at home, they've won one out of five matches but they are tough not to break down. So Arsenal also, the confidence is back, fourth position, their fate is in their hands, not in the hands of anybody because they defeated Manchester United and they played Chelsea against all the odds. Score seven goals in two games is not a main feat. So let's jump to Everton against Chelsea now. Everton are fighting relegation. They don't want to go down because there are only two clubs in the history of the Premier League that have not won a relegation and that is Arsenal and Everton. Everton lost the Manchester United derby in a bit of controversial fashion against Liverpool because they felt they had gotten what looks like penalty and they were not given and don't forget that Everton have been a victim of circumstances. The same thing happened to them against Manchester City. They had to take the Premier League referees apologizing to Frank Lampard and I'm saying what does the apology do? We didn't give them that penalty that they were just not given or what and for Chelsea, the player won a draw against Manchester United. He was not expected despite creating the chances and Thomas Tuchel was leaving that all the chances they created from Caillabat to these James and all of them they didn't convert it. They need to bounce back. Whether they can get the result against Everton remains to be seen but Everton also they know they don't want to go down. If they go down it will be disastrous. Leeds United against Manchester City. Manchester City know Liverpool play first and once Liverpool wins they go top. They don't want to slip. The eyes of Pergaduola is I want to win the double if possible. Win the Champions League which has been the only goal for Manchester City and then win the league. Will he focus more on the return leg? But one thing I've learned from Pep is that the game in front of him he focuses more on that. So I'm sure he will put all his best legs in this game. He will put all his best legs in this game but Jesse Marsh has done a fantastic job. He has done a fantastic job in the sense that his last five matches they are beaten. He has been able to mix match attacking and defending. Calvin Phillips is back. Not like those days of Marcelo Bielsa where they just open up their defense and they concede lots of goals. So Bielsa is no longer there. Jesse Marsh is there and their last five matches and if you look at the way Manchester City have also been playing they've been playing some Cincinnati football and you saw how they destroyed World Four and the way they scored four against a certain Real Madrid. They are bored in confidence and they want to get a result. I think Manchester City have enough against Manchester United. Manchester United is not just a team at all. What was the last time United got a victory? Two out of about ten. The only positive is David Yeh and of course Cristiano Ronaldo and anytime people talk about Cristiano Ronaldo saying it's the problem of United I just laugh and I said eight out of nine goals Ronaldo has scored. He's the joint second highest goalscorer in the English family. At 37. Yes with you Mason. What more do you expect? It shows that the other guys are not coming into the party unlike other teams. So United against Brentford. You cannot look beyond Brentford. I have Anthony, Christian Eriksson. You see the way Eriksson is playing. You saw how they almost defeated Tottenham Oswald and Tottenham Oswald survived by the skin of their teeth. They will come with so much confidence that this is a shambolic United that is there for the taking. So I will not be too surprised if Brentford comes to Otraford and either gets a draw or get a result. United's faith is no longer in their hands to qualify for Champions League. They should just be fighting for the Europa League and I'm sure that will be disappointing to the new manager in Erichag that he will have love to start with the Champions League. Most big players want to play in the Champions League because that's where the real attention is. Well, coming from what Shenmue just said, Manchester United interim manager Ralph Ragnick has called new Incubant to the role Erich 10 Hag as one of the best managers in Europe. Ragnick also opened about his role moving forward next season and said he will mainly be helping in the recruitment side. The new Austria manager proclaimed that United needs to get recruitment rights if they are to close up teams like Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea. Ragnick blowing his own trumpets. He says 10 Hag is one of the best coaches in Europe. Yeah, right. Let him come and let's find out. Okay, now I told you earlier that I was going to talk about cricket. Shenmue and I extensively discussed other issues. Well, the main issue just walks in. Okay, so we're discussing the Chuma Anosike Cup. Now, if you ever get about this before, it's been going on for about 11 years now and it's only for Southeast States. So if you ever get about it, maybe that's why. Now, you're here today. Okay, Chuma, welcome on the show. Thank you so much. Let's start with this. Everybody watching the show right now will conclude that that guy must be a boxer or a basketball player, you know. But let's start with my question. Everybody who gets involved in sports, I'm saying this honestly right now, everybody who gets involved in sports in Nigeria, it always has an undertow. It's always about politics. You see, Nigerians are suffering. The only opium we have, the only high that we have is sports. So why, okay, okay, we'll take a short break and we'll come back. Stay with us. Welcome back. Like I said earlier, I've got Chuma Anosike here with me and the question would be why crickets? I guess why not? Anyway, good morning ladies and gentlemen to answer your question, why crickets? Cricket is a sport I've been involved with for maybe about 40 or something or years, right from secondary school in King's College. And it's a sport that has brought good joy to me and great joy to a lot of friends I have. And I felt it would be good for the next generation to sort of enjoy the sort of benefits we had from cricket. So that's a direct answer to your question. Why not cricket? Okay, you see, I ask that question because some of us are not fortunate. So go to secondary schools where cricket is the main sport. I was lucky that I did, I went to FGC Worry. You know what, you went to King's College, you had a lot of schools, Government College, Ugele, you know and all that. How has it been? It must have been tough considering the financial doldrum in Nigeria. How hard things are? Are you sustained this for 11 years? That's like a miracle. Well, we thank God first of all and we've had very good partners along the way. It hasn't been a solo effort. This year in particular, I want to take this opportunity to thank our co-sponsors, Mekano International and the Kulu Group. They've been wonderful, they've been very supportive. And with the help of partners like this, they were able to fund this event and we've successfully done it now, like you said, for 11 years. We had a break last year because of COVID, you know, but it's good that we've been able to sustain it and I'm happy that the benefits are beginning to show. Because essentially, what informed us starting this was that, you know, a decade ago, we noticed that the game was a serious decline in the southeast. Indeed, I think at that time only a number and perhaps... Yes, I feel to mention that the game takes place, this particular competition takes place in the southeast. Yes, just the southeast, yes, for now. And that's because, obviously I'm from southeast, so that's the first reason. And we noticed that there's been a sharp, sharp decline in the first one and the quality. And even in the amount of cricket that was played, very few schools were playing. So that was the initial objective to sort of revive the game and then sustain it. And thank God it's been a fairly successful journey so far. And four years ago, we started the female version because initially it was just me. Four years ago, we got the females involved. And this year in Abia, we had the five states participating across both genders. And we had almost 200 young men and women playing the game. Shane was telling me something a few minutes ago before we started the program. He said, you guys came together to ensure that every state in the southeast has their own cricket turf, where they can play. Which I think is fantastic. Well, that's the objective. We're not quite there yet, but that's the objective. Because cricket, as you know, is a game that... That's where the financial component comes. You need equipment, you need playing facilities. And without those facilities, you can only go so far. So part of our objective now to take the game to the next level in the zone is to have a dedicated cricket facility in each of the five states. And of course that will come with equipment, as you know. It's an objective, like I said, but we're getting there slowly. Okay. For those who don't know, I know him so well, because I'm a personal cricket person. He's a bystander. Went to King's College, went to University of Lagos, played for several. And he's also the chairman of Anamba State Cricket Association. He's been a board member of the Nigerian Cricket Federation. Baris Achu Manosike, looking back at this competition in the last 11 years, would you inwardly say that you have been satisfied with the talents that have been churned out? Yes, I would say so. Generally, obviously, we want to achieve more. But specifically, I want to mention maybe three, four people who played in the last decade, who have gone on to play for the national team. That's in the male category. We've had a couple of girls as well who have gone on to play for the national side. Indeed, as you are aware, the last quadrangular tournament we had with Rwanda and a couple of other countries, a 15-year-old girl, Lilia Nude, from Emboe State, played for Nigeria. That's quite an achievement, considering that she only started playing cricket maybe two years ago. So those are the sort of achievements we recorded over the last decade, like I said. Which is one of the objectives, like I said, when we started, to develop the game and then produce quality players who hopefully represent the country. I want to speak on Lilia Nude because I was much the commentator and MC at that women's T20 Championship. Lilia Nude won two men of the match, a pair of the match, the performance. She was also the best-behaved cricketer at the end of that tournament. And I saw the way you held her, and you were so excited yourself. Mr. Passanella, Mr. Okoru, Mr. Chika Okoru is a member of the board representing the South East, even Mr. Aguilo. And the President of the Federation, Mr. Uiyakbata. I'm sure you are excited that a 15-year-old who played in your tournament that you are sponsoring is representing Nigeria and one of the top bowlers in Nigeria. I also want to mention the most valuable player at your last tournament, Tim Eleo, who said he played at GS3 in 2017 and now is in SS3 and he got invitation into the national team for the trial. Let me ask you, this T20 competition, has it been a relative success in Nigeria and in the tournaments you are hosting? Well, as you know, just a quick recap. T20 is probably the most modern and most popular form of cricket globally. And for now in Nigeria, that's really where I focus this. That and the 1-day game, which is 50 overs. For the reasons that we're not quite where we can as seen to test playing status. So yes, T20 has evolved quite nicely and like I said, that's our main focus for now. And yes, we are working towards preparing our players, both male and female. Like I want to emphasize, this thing is now both male and female because ICC wants to push women cricket. Yeah, so we are preparing our players towards that. As you aware, the national trial has just finished and I think we had a couple of, not just chimis, it was somebody else who was part of that this day. And Lilian obviously was part of the female this thing as well. So these are exciting times for us and we're quite happy that some of those that are taking part in the tournament have gone on, like I said, to greater heights and we will continue. That is what they want to sustain. Okay, at the last PWC National Under 17 competition, Southeast came second. And I'm sure that came to you as gladly because your investments in the Southeast cricket has paid off. Yes, you're right. I mean, again, that's both male and female. We won Silver. One match was particularly close. I think the South-South picked us both. But you know, if you compare that to where we were 10 years ago, I'm not even sure the South is featured in any tournament really. So it's a very positive development. But I want to thank, it's not all about me. I want to emphasize that we've had a team working with us and I want to thank the parents of the kids as well because with someone like Lilian, we had to literally appeal to her mom. It's not easy given the challenges we have in Nigeria to allow your daughter at 15 to go travel us to travel. We had to make special arrangements for her to be able to participate. But I'm happy because what has happened is that it has opened up a new vista for her, for her family, for her school and all her friends. So which is one of the things we wanted to achieve as well because with that now there's a positive narrative with all that's going on not just in the East and the rest of the country. If these kids have something positive to look forward to, they tell their friends about it, people now want to be involved in cricket because they see it as a possible path to a career. I was going to ask that question. You see it's easy for you to lure youths off the streets when it comes to games like basketball, when it comes to games like football. How hard is it to lure youths to come to crickets? Now that's where T20 comes in because T20 is not your old classic cricket where everybody's wearing white and going with red balls. As you can see this is not a cricket jersey but this is similar to what you would wear in T20. So it's colorful, it's social, you understand, and it's not as long as playing a test match. So typically a T20 match will last you four, five hours. So it's something you can get young people to relate with. In between the overs you have some music, there's banter, there's music and so on. So that way we're able to make cricket more psychedelic, more into the youth. And I must say it worked. And if you create, like I said, something sustainable for them because now there's something to look forward to every year. So I think that that's something we'll manage to achieve and we hope we'll build on that in the years going forward. What is the next edition? Well hopefully the next year we normally have a small committee that meets to decide where the venue will be because what we want to do is to move around all the five southeast stations. We don't want those stations to monopolize it. So it's likely to be a bunny or anybby who will just decide in the next few months and then we'll make an announcement. You started from young playing cricket for King's College and I'm sure you're so passionate about development. It's not all about hosting the Barista, Chuma, Naseke cricket competition. Is there plans in place for SEKA, which is the Southeast Cricket Association, to have what we call a developmental program that can continue to churn out talent, which will also be in line with the vision of the president of the Federation who said every year we want to churn out about 250,000 kids playing crickets. That's a very good question. SEKA, I'm happy you've introduced SEKA. That's the Southeast Cricket Association. Essentially it's an umbrella body for the five Southeast states. So each state has its own Cricket Association, but it has this umbrella body because we felt coming together, there will be economies of scale. There's, we can access funds, we can access sponsors and facilities which may be difficult for each state on its own to access. So yes, SEKA does have a developmental program which is in line with the SEA program. So it's something again, like I said, we will, maybe SEKA will make an appropriate announcement at the time, but I'll give you a heads up. It's something we're working on and I would emphasize the more cricket is played the better because at the moment we actually don't have enough tournaments. So SEKA in the near future will probably come up with a SEKA, specific SEKA competition, which may or may not be an eight grade tournament, but developmental plans are in place as far as SEKA. I wish I could have the whole day with you, but we really don't have time. But I am promising you out there who just watched this program, I will make sure I try and bring him back on the show maybe next week or in two weeks and of course you will take your time and I will open the phone lines so you can actually call and ask him questions. I promise you that. Thank you very much for coming. Thank you so much. I have such a short notice. How is the pleasure and I want to commend Barisatum Manosike. Doing something like this for 11 years is not being fixed. At the last tournament, there were trophies, there were awards, there were cash prizes, there were even rewards for individual performances, best batter, best bowler, best fielder, best wicketkeeper, everything. And doing something like this for 11 years on a consistent basis without any political agenda. Like I said before, it's a miracle. So for us, it's huge. Thank you very much for joining us today. Behind the cameras, we have Isaac Ziko. You can't see him, but he makes you see us. Thank you very much Francis Inden, I call him François. Thank you. Thank you very much Kay Coyote. Thank you very much. Thank you very much PG. Tio, thank you very much. Thank you very much PG. Paul George, I call him the president general. And downstairs in the powerhouse. Thank you very much Dario D1. Thank you very much Femi. My name is Wally Scott. You're on the same time next week like I always advise you at the end of every show, if not for anything, at least for your heart. Do some sports.