Nigeria Women’s Cricket team coach, Onome Oghenekevwe has insisted that she is optimistic as they begin their campaign at the maiden Nigeria Women T20 Invitational against Sierra Leone on Monday.
Oghenekevwe made this known while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Abuja.
According to her, the team’s training had been intense and she’s hopeful that their over three weeks drills in camp would pay-off.
“The training has been intense. The team has had support from Asanka Gurusinha, the country’s high performance manager and other coaches; Leke Oyede, Seye Olympio, Theophilus Ibodeme and myself.
“From the trainings, we have been able to step up everybody’s game and we see the young lads who were invited after the National Under 17 tournament, putting the senior ones under pressure.
“It’s a good competition for us and we are impressed with how much the team has improved,’’ Oghenekevwe said.
Ahead of the team’s first game against Sierra Leone on Monday, the coach said the team was ready to take on their rivals.
“We recently met Sierra Leone at the ICC Women’s T20 World Africa Qualifier in Botswana last September and we defeated them by five wickets.
“I am sure that they will also have a plan on how to defeat us but we are optimistic to come out top.
“We will not underrate any team in this tournament but will respect all and take each game as they come,’’ he said.
The tournament begins on Monday at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval in Lagos, with Rwanda, Ghana, the Gambia and Sierra Leone participating.