Sierra Leone Cricket Association has on the 5th February 2022 kick commenced the 6V6 Criiio Cricket program for School going Pupils in four Communities within Western ,which took place at the Siaka Stevens Stadium Basketball Court, Freetown.
According to the Development Manager of the Sierra Leone Cricket Association , Andrew Foday Kanyoko Cole said the Program is to break the barrier in the game of Cricket in the Country for both male and female, and also aim to spread the game of Cricket across the Country. The game is designed for the street to help popularize the sport in the entire country and have decided to start at the Siaka Stevens Stadium and to take it across the Country.
He said the Criiio Cricket game is a game that can be play by anybody, at any place and at any time in the Street, that’s the reason countries like line Pakistan, India, Bangladesh have large followers of the game.
Andrew Foday Kanyoko affirmed that they are currently targeting 150 School going pupils in four Communities. He added that the entire project is solely and wholly funded by the Sierra Leone Cricket Association; even though they have made some strive to get funding but yet to get anyone to come to their aid.
He further that both under 19 male and female teams are currently in intensive training ahead of their bilateral series in Nigeria. He said they are faced with huge challenges from Government due to their last commitment which they failed to uphold, though such action may have negative impact on the team and the progress of the game.
He said the support they are getting from the International Cricket Council is not enough to spread the game of Cricket in the Country; he called on the Private sector to invest in the Sport.
While the Chief Executive Director of the Sierra Leone Cricket Association, Philip Amara said the essence of staging such project is to encourage the young athletes to develop love for the game and attract Cricketers around the world. He added that this project will target new talent with potential for the game.
He added that developing Cricket in the Country is one of their mandates but they have been facing financial challenges from the government and the Private sector as they continue to take Cricket to the entire Country.
In conclusion, the director of development for the association, Emmanuel Pissima called on the different participating teams to play in the Spirit of Cricket as that will attract new athletes and the association will be able to get more breeds.
Six different houses participated in the first edition of Criiio Cricket project in the Country.