Cricket: New foreign coach charged to make Nigeria best in Africa
Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has set a target for its new Sri Lankan coach, Asanka Gurusinha, to make Nigeria the best in Africa within the first year of his contract. President of NCF, Professor Yahaya Ukwenya, disclosed this at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday December 8, 2020 during the unveiling of the foreign […]
Asanka Gurusinha, the Head Coach and High Performance Manager of Cricket for Nigeria handed the national team jersey during his unveiling yesterday at the Abuja National stadium
Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has set a target for its new Sri Lankan coach, Asanka Gurusinha, to make Nigeria the best in Africa within the first year of his contract.
President of NCF, Professor Yahaya Ukwenya, disclosed this at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday December 8, 2020 during the unveiling of the foreign coach.
He said: “Mr. Gurusinha’s appointment is a major statement of intent by NCF and he has been offered a renewable contract to run for three years.
“He will double as Head Coach and High Performance Manager of NCF.
“Coach education and mentoring has been added to his responsibilities in addition to developing a national framework for grassroots cricket coaching unique to Nigerian setting.
“We expect him to work towards the long term goals of NCF stated above but the immediate measurable expectations will include; Nigeria approaching top 20 ICC T20 ranking from the current position of 39 by the end of his first tenure.”
Prof Ukwenya added that Gurusinha must make Nigeria to become “one of the most physically fit teams and attaining number 1 ranked fielding status in Africa within first year.”
He also said, at least, three Nigeria batsmen and three bowlers should be ranked within Africa top 20 by the first 18 months of the Sri Lankan contract.
Gurusinha was picked ahead of 32 top coaches who applied for Nigeria’s top job.
Responding Gurusinha said “I am very excited to take up this job and I am really looking forward to the best we can achieve with the level of enthusiasm, talent and support that the Nigerian Cricket Federation has.”
His immediate assignment is a close camping for the top 36 players in the country who are already in Abuja.