SWAN@57: Association Partners SWAN On Capacity Building For Members
Members of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Anambra Chapter were on Friday trained on the technics and skills of Cricket game reportage.
The sports writers were trained by Anambra Cricket Association (ACA) who were partners with SWAN in the celebration of 57th SWAN Anniversary in Anambra.
The theme of the celebration was “Deepening the Knowledge of the Game of Cricket”.
Ikem Asika, an International Cricket Council approved umpire who gave the lecture said Cricket was a gentleman’s game which had taken roots in Nigeria and Anambra in particular.
Asika who is also an ace sports presenter said sports writers had to understand the game of Cricket for them to reports it accurately.
The guest lecturer who gave a brief history of Cricket introduced the languages, jargons and scoring patterns of the game to the participants.
He urged sports writers to develop themselves by deepening their knowledge of various games beyond the usual football reporting adding that sports writers are not football reporters.
Ugochukwu Umeh, acting coach of Anambra Cricket team led participants to Cricket pitch of Bishop Crowther Semjnary, Awka for practical training and explanation of the game
In his speech, Tony Ojj, Chairman of SWAN Anambra Chapter called on Anambra government to pay special interest in the game of Cricket and provide requisite facilities for it to develop in the state.
Oji said Cricket was a popular sports in Anambra and a force to reckon with in the comity of Cricket playing states in the country but lack a facility where they could ply their trade.
He regretted that Anambra Cricket Association (ACA) have had to rely on few schools which had supported the game and had helped to develop players in Anambra.
The chairman said the idea behind the focus on Cricket was to expand the scope of members’ reportage skills to enable them become more specialised in their job.
“Cricket is a great game in Anambra, as a matter of fact it is the most popular in Anambra after football and athletics.
“Painfully, there is no Cricket Oval in Anambra, there is no state owned facility where Cricketers can play their game.
“On our part as sports writers, we have chosen Cricket as a game in focus so that out members can brush up their knowledge of the game and gain mastery of reporting in order to promote the game,” he said.
In his message, Chuma Anosike, Chairman of ACA lauded sports writers for deeming it necessary to give Cricket the right attention it deserved.
Anosike who was represented by his secretary said Anambra was the best Cricket playing state in the South East and third in Nigeria but regretted that the game did not have a home in the state.
He promised to continue to support the game and enjoined SWAN to keep up the good work of giving fair attention to all games.
He said though the state government had made commitment to donate a space for oval 10 years ago but the process of securing was ongoing and expressed optimism that it would be delivered to the association soon.
