By: Sarah Manya, Jalingo
The Community for Sports and Educational Development Innovative (CSEDI), a UK-based NGO committed to promoting sports and education, has donated cricket kits to Team Taraba. The ceremony, held on Friday at the Taraba State Sports Council in Jalingo, marked another milestone in the state’s drive to empower youth through sports.
The donation, facilitated by Mr. George Shita Haruna, the Director of the Taraba State Sports Council and a board member of the Nigeria Badminton Federation, included world-class cricket equipment such as bats, helmets, balls, gloves, and pads.
Presenting the kits, Mr. Shita lauded CSEDI for its unwavering support and described the gesture as a significant development for cricket in the state. “This donation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our players. We encourage the coach to use these kits to nurture young talents and help the state secure more medals in upcoming national events,” he said.
In addition to the CSEDI donation, the Nigeria Cricket Federation also contributed developmental equipment to the state. Mr. Shita acknowledged these contributions, crediting the rapid growth of the sports sector to Governor Agbu Kefas’s commitment to youth empowerment.
“Under Governor Kefas, Taraba has witnessed unprecedented participation in national competitions. At the 2024 National Youth Games in Asaba, we sent a record 165 contingents and secured medals in various sports, including cricket, where our team defeated Lagos State, a cricket stronghold,” Shita added.
Responding to the donations, the Acting Coach of Team Taraba, Mr. Freeman Godwin, expressed gratitude to CSEDI and the Nigeria Cricket Federation. “This is unforgettable. We’ve never seen a red ball in Taraba cricket until now. We promise to use these kits judiciously and continue making the state proud,” he said.
The Secretary of the Taraba State Sports Council, Mr. Sa’ad Abubakar Zongre, emphasized the importance of the kits in enhancing the team’s performance. “With focus, resilience, and commitment, these players can one day become national and international stars,” he noted.
Captains of the male and female cricket teams, Favor Malami and Garba Ahmed, also expressed their appreciation. “We thank CSEDI and the Nigeria Cricket Federation for their support and pray for continued blessings on their humanitarian efforts,” they said.
The donations are expected to further strengthen grassroots sports development in Taraba and enhance the state’s competitive edge in national and international cricket events.