Tonye Timimadi, Team Rivers Cricket Coach, has expressed joy at their victory over the Kaduna side because they were a team to beat at the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival.
Kaduna lost to Rivers after scoring 115 runs in 33 overs at the first innings to Rivers’ 117 runs in 38 overs in the second innings at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) cricket oval.
Timimadi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday that Rivers had got its pound of flesh from Team Kaduna after losing twice to them at the 16th edition of the festival in Kaduna in 2009.
“’I am so happy that we have been able to redeem our image battered in 2009 Games in Kaduna where we were beaten twice by Kaduna.
“And Kaduna is a team to beat in the tournament and for us doing so though with a slim margin makes us happy,” he said.
Timimadi said that the team would go into their next game against Borno with humility in spite of their hard fought victory.
“Tomorrow’s match will be played with all humility not minding our comeback victory here,” the coach said.
The team’s batsman, Adesanya Rotimi, who also had the highest runs of 36, told NAN that he intended to surpass it in the next game.
“I am happy that I was able to play my role in making the team win and hope to exceed it in our next match,” he said.
Reacting, Joe Onoja, the Coach of Team Kaduna, praised his team in spite of losing, saying it was a gallant lost.
He also alleged that Team Rivers used ineligible cricketers and said that the team would petition against Rivers to the Main Organising Committee of the Games.
“We lost gallantly, my boys fought doggedly, however, we are not satisfied with the way and manner our opponents used in getting their victory.
“They used ineligible cricketers who have not resided in the state for more than a month.
“So, we are petitioning the team and hoping we succeed there,” he said.
Onoja also complained about their bowling and stated they would work on it.
NAN reports that Gowon Yusuf of Team Kaduna had the highest runs of 52 in the game. (NAN)