Edo Cricket League, breeding ground for Nigeria’s next stars — Oviawe

By Maxwell Kumoye

 

 

The 2025 Edo Men’s T20 Cricket League has been hailed as more than just a tournament, it’s a factory of talent shaping the future of Nigerian cricket.

Speaking at the opening weekend of the competition at Iyoba College, Benin City, the Vice Chairman of the Edo State Cricket Association and League Committee Chairman, Barr. Abraham Oviawe, said the event remains a cornerstone in Edo’s mission to sustain its dominance and nurture homegrown stars.

“It’s been a recurring decimal for us, our style of creating a platform for players in the male category to have several games,” Oviawe said. 

“From U-17 to national team level, everyone gets valuable match time. That’s how we test the work of our coaches and grow the game.”

Now in its latest edition, the league features eight vibrant teams, seven from Edo and one guest team from Delta State, with fixtures taking place every weekend at Iyoba College and Adolor College fields in Benin City.

The competition has drawn some of the nation’s finest, with at least eight national team players and several “overseas” Nigerians, Edo-based stars who play for the country internationally, gracing the field. Each club, Oviawe revealed, is allowed to register up to three such elite players to raise the bar of competition.

“The whole idea is to have fun while building capacity,” he added. “When we enjoy the game, development naturally follows. This league is our diagnostic tool, a place where selectors can see who’s improving and who deserves a call-up.”

Beyond the wickets and runs, Oviawe emphasized the league’s deeper purpose, building a cricket culture. 

Despite challenges with popularity, he said Edo State continues to lead with grassroots programs, school outreach, and training initiatives that have steadily drawn more young people into the game.

“Like every sport, cricket has its challenges,” he admitted. “But our outreach to schools, our seminars, and our incentives have turned it into a harvest of talent and passion. Once young people experience the game, they fall in love with it.”

For Edo cricket, the mission is clear: play hard, develop harder, and keep the pipeline of talent flowing. And as Oviawe put it, “The game itself is life.”