Nigeria bows to Kuwait in World Cricket League

Kuwait cruised to its third victory of Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 7 (WCL Div.7) after defeating Nigeria by nine wickets at Lobatse.

Nigeria got off to a bad start when, after Ademola Onikoyi had taken the first run his opening partner, Ramit Gill was dismissed for a duck leaving the Africans reeling 1-1.

Things didn’t get much better for the side with Segun Olayinka and captain Endurance Ofem were dismissed totaling just 10 runs between them. Responsibility then fell once again to player-coach Sean Philips who proved the cornerstone again of the innings hitting a 125-ball 75 to stabilise the innings.

The 20-year-old fast bowler claimed 5-24 including the key wickets of Philips and Olayinka to make sure that his side had a small total to chase down in the second innings. It was then up to Irfan Bhatti and Abid Mushtaq to knock off the runs but not before Abid departed for 16 leaving Bhatti and Saad Qamar to finish off the innings for the team. Bhatti smashed his way to 83 not out off 76 balls in an innings that included eight boundaries and four sixes by the 32-year-old right-handed batsman and guided the team to victory alongside Qamar who walked away with a half-century.

Man of the match Saad Khalid said, “It is obviously great to make it three wins out of three for the tournament but we can’t rest on today’s win – we face Germany tomorrow and we know they’ll want a good match especially since they lost to us in the final of Division 8. “I was pleased with the way I bowled today and it was good to dismiss Sean Philips as we know he was the key man in the Nigeria side along with their top order.”

Friday (May 6), will see Germany take on Kuwait at BCA 1, Japan will play Nigeria at BCA 2 and hosts Botswana head to Lobatse to play Norway.

In other news, Hosts Botswana defeated Germany by two wickets in a thrilling match at BCA Oval 1 while despite a valiant effort by Japan’s batsmen the side from the East Asia-Pacific region lost out to Norway at BCA Oval 2 by 53 runs.

Nigeria touch down for WCGC Finals

Nigeria’s team to the finals of the World Corporate Golf Championship has arrived Simola, George in South Africa in a bid to better the fifth place they finished last year.

The team of amateur golfers departed the country on May 1st two days before the official practice day of the world championship. O&A Consultants is representing Nigeria at the events which fields, Olaitan Muyideen, Chris Obije, Remi Olukoya and Joe Abuja.

The first three players featured for Trenko Oil at last year’s event before crossing over to O&A this year.

“experience would work well for the Nigerian team this year” says Obinna Duru one of the directors of Global Golf, the Franchise holder of the event in Nigeria.

The World Championship would be played on Friday 6th and 7th of May while the players are expected back in Nigeria on 9th of May.

More NIgerians for International Golf Championship

Nigerian number one ranked golfer, Gboyega Oyebanji would jet out on May 7 along with other top professional players to chase honours at the Cameroon International Golf Championship.

Some of the players that are expected to fly Nigeria’s flag at the event include, Sunday Odegha, Martin Odoh, Femi Olagbenro, Kingsley Oparaku, Mark Joseph and Ineye Wesley, bringing Nigeria’s entry for the event to ten.

Already winner of the Port Gentil Open, Gift Willy, Oche Odoh and Basiru Bakare have signed in for the event with the earlier two players already at the tournament venue. The event would also feature players from Morocco, Gabon, France, South Africa, Congo DR, Togo.

Willy Crowned Golf Champion in Gabon, head for Cameroon

Nigerian professional golfers Gift Willy, has recorded his second win in three starts outside the country with his latest recorded at Gabonese port city, Port Gentil.

Willy who earlier on February 18 pocketed the highest golf event in Banjul, The Gambia won the event with a seven strokes advantage over little known Ghanaian Godwin Sai and subsequently became the hottest pro golfers on the west coast of Africa.

“It was the mental eye that I have over other players here. My game is still not at the best shape” he had said after pocketing the over 2,500 Euros at stake at the event.

He added that despite the winning score he posted in Port Gentil, he was not his best. “I struggled with my swing unlike in Gambia where my putting and swing were in the best shape. I think what helped me was because I know I know how to get the job done despite those flaws and again my mental side was stronger than everyone on the field.” He said.

Willy was the only player that shot scores lower than the course par for the entire rounds in Port Gentil, he shot, 71, 70, 71, 70 to win the event with six under par. Nigeria’s Basiru Bakare placed third at the event which was a repeat of what he shot at the earlier event in Moanda where the Nigerians failed to retain the title that was held by their late colleague, Ali Abdullahi.

With Willy, win he has relocated to Yaoundé ahead of the Cameroon International Golf Championship which holds one of the biggest prize purse in the region with 40, 000 Euros, and he says early arrival will help him rehearse the course and fix the flaws ahead of the tee-off of the event on May 11. Willy added that he would maximize the advantage of his early arrival.

“In Cameroon, I am not expecting anything less than a win. I have played with most of the player that would be showing up, so I know what to expect in a way. But I expect it to be the tougher than the other events, more Nigerian players are would be coming including from South Africa and Europe. I will just keep my focus and that is very important.”

He says the Yaounde golf course is also another challenge on it own and he believes it will take the best of artistry to conquers it. “You don’t only need to know how hit the shots, you must know how to shape shots to return good scores in Yaounde. I believe I am ready” he said.