Emeka Onyeama, former president of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), has called on stakeholders to focus on secondary schools as the key for the development of the game at the grassroots.

Onyeama in Abuja on Monday said that cricket could only compete with other popular sports in the country if a deliberate effort on grassroots development was pursued.

He said that focusing on secondary schools was key to the nation’s progress in the sport.

“The foundational age of any growing child is between the ages of nine and 17 and you can find them in junior and senior secondary schools.

“That is the best stage to fully introduce the sport to the grassroots. The primary schools are important, but it is just majorly to make the game popular among the kids.

“It is in secondary schools that the children can go for competitions, be more exposed and have a better understanding of the game.

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“It is at this stage that we witness more followership of the sport and interest in playing the game professionally. This is an area where all stakeholders must focus on if we want to develop the game,’’ Onyeama said.