By Amaechi Agbo

Coal City Cricket Club on Sunday emerged champions of the maiden Caesar Okogeri Cricket Championship in Enugu.

The championship which held at the St Patrick’s College, Emene in Enugu South Local Government had the Commissioner for Youth and Sports in in the state, Honourable Lloyd Ekweremadu and other dignitaries and stakeholders in cricket who watched the cricketers display their talents.

The competition which was contested by four teams – Rising Sun Cricket Club, UNN Cricket Club, St Patrick Cricket Club and Coal City Cricket Club – started on Friday, 19th January and ended on Sunday, 21st January, 2024.

The four teams were grouped into two and they played knockout matches from day one. Rising Sun beat St Patrick in their group while Coal City defeated UNN as well to reach the final.

In the entertaining final on Sunday, Coal City Cricket Club defeated Rising Sun while UNN Cricket team got the better of St Patrick in the 3rd place match.

The winner of the tournament, Coal City Cricket Club got a giant trophy and ₦50, 000 cash reward for their effort’s.

The other three teams got ₦30, 000 cash reward each for taking part in the competition. All the players and officials were presented with Certificates of Participation by the organisers of the the tournament

Individual players who distinguished themselves in the championship received various award.

Ogbue Prince from UNN won the Best Batter award, Odo Chidozie of Rising Sun went home with the Bowler of the series award, Inyang Henry of Coal City won the Most Valuable Player, MVP award while nine-year-old Udeh Amarachi won the tournament’s Promising Star Award.

The sponsor of the competition and Chairman, Enugu State Cricket Association, Nze Ogbonna Okogeri said the championship which will be a yearly competition, was orgnised in honour of his late father and lover of cricket, Chief Christopher Okogeri, who died 30 years ago.