The The Howzat Foundation for Cricket National Junior Cricket Super League has returned, involving six schools from Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Edo, and Delta states competing for the Philip Asiodu trophy at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval in Lagos from Thursday to Saturday. PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The tournament started in 1997 and was hosted in various states across the country. It took a break after the 23rd edition in 2019, but has now resumed with the 24th tournament for secondary schools, following a four-year hiatus.
This year, the participating schools are Kings College, Lagos; Ansar Ud Deen Grammar School, Lagos; Edo Boys High School, Benin City; Government College, Ibadan; Government Model Secondary School, Delta State; and St. John Senior Secondary School, Ogun State, competing on a round-robin basis.
Egwuatu Olisa, Co-founder of the Howzat Foundation for Cricket, mentioned that the tournament's return is beneficial for cricket development in the country, especially after the impact of COVID-19 and the adjustments made to the schools’ calendar from 2021 to 2023 which led to the break.
“It all started in 1997 in Lagos when Philip Asiodu sponsored this important part of our development program. The Howzat Foundation for Cricket initiated secondary school leagues in Lagos, Ogun, and Edo states.
“In Lagos, there was the Fountain Trust Merchant Bank League; in Ogun, the Dr Samuel Ayodele Oni trophy; and in Edo, the Oba of Benin trophy.”
The maiden edition in 1997 was won by Jibowu Cricket Club of Ogun, which was followed by eight editions played in Lagos. The tournament was then moved to various cities including Awka, Warri, Ughelli, Ibadan, Umuahia, Owerri, and Abuja.
Comprehensive College, Aiyetoro, Ogun State emerged victorious five times in the tournament, while Ijemo-Titun High School, Abeokuta, Ogun State, and Bishop Crowther Seminary, Awka, Anambra State clinched the title four times.
The tournament has produced several talented players for the national team, such as Dotun Olatunji, Kunle Adegbola, Ovie Osuaso, Jide Bejide, Joshua Ogunlola, Sesan Adedeji, and Taiwo Mohammed, among others.
