Young Nigerian star Useni sets out to prove a point in Zimbabwe’s NPL

AT just 20, Nigeria all-rounder Prosper Useni already has 61 Twenty20 Internationals behind him. He says Zimbabwe feels “like my second home” as he takes on the National Premier League (NPL) T20 Blast in the country’s capital, Harare and he sees the competition as a chance to show the quality of cricketers coming out of West Africa.

Useni, a left-handed batter and left-arm medium-pace bowler, plays for Midlands side Mbizo. He is one of eight players from Uganda, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania in the competition this season, under a Zimbabwe kCricket (ZC) regional development programme for Associate nations.
He has scored 85 runs off 51 balls, a strike rate of nearly 167 and taken six wickets in his first four matches. That includes a key role in Mbizo’s first win of the tournament on Sunday, a three-wicket victory over Eastern Titans at Takashinga Cricket Club. He took three wickets for 36 runs with the ball, then scored 25 off 14 balls in a chase that ended with Sheldon Mugari hitting 24 runs off the final over.

“I’m feeling good because Zimbabwe is like my second home when it comes to cricket,” Useni told Cricket Africa.

“I’m here almost every year so I basically know how everything works here and how everything plays. I just come and play myself and get into the proper position to play.”

Born in March 2006, Useni made his T20I debut for Nigeria in 2021. He has taken 52 wickets in the format, with best figures of 4/14, and scored 445 runs with a highest score of 37.
His best-known performance came at the 2023 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Region Qualifier in Windhoek. Aged 17, he scored 31 off 19 balls and was named Player of the Match in Nigeria’s win over Tanzania.
He said he joined Mbizo knowing what was expected of him.
“When I was coming here, it was given to me as a responsibility,” he said.

“So I just feel like I’m basically doing my job, taking wickets when it matters, when it’s required and scoring runs when the team needs me to score runs. Just taking responsibility and doing what’s best for the team.”

That has shown in his numbers. He took 2/28 in Mbizo’s opening match against big boys Takashinga 1. Against Rimuka, batting at number 11, he hit an unbeaten 21 off 10 balls with two sixes. He top-scored with 34 off 23 balls against defending champions Gladiators.
Useni said his attacking style with the bat came from his training in Nigeria.

“Back home, that’s what I was trained to do. So wherever I am, I just try to apply myself and go with the basics,” he said.

“I’m into scoring runs, so I just have to come out here, do what’s right, take on the bowlers and get what I want to get.”

For Useni, the invitation from ZC was about more than his own game.

“I felt very happy when I heard I was coming here because it’s an opportunity to come and showcase what I’ve got,” he said.

“I’ve been playing back home and I feel like this call-up is an opportunity to come here and try to show that, yes, we have quality cricketers in Nigeria back home.”

The programme was set up by ZC managing director Givemore Makoni and board chairperson Tavengwa Mukuhlani. Mukuhlani also chairs the Africa Cricket Association and is deputy chairperson of the International Cricket Council.

Useni’s compatriot Elijah Jimmy is playing for Queens. Rwanda’s Ignace Ntirenganya has also made an impact for Rimuka, taking 5/18 against defending champions Gladiators.

Useni said Sunday’s win showed Mbizo belonged in the competition after defeats to Takashinga 1, Rimuka and Gladiators.

“It’s very, very important because we’ve been losing back-to-back and it’s not looking as if we are good enough to be here,” he said.

“But today just showed that we have quality players and we are actually good to compete and compete to win.”

His targets for the rest of the tournament are high.

“Coming into this tournament, in terms of bowling I have to be in the top one to five. If I’m number one, I’m happy, number two also,” Useni said.

“In terms of batting, I have to be up there. Then for all-rounders in the tournament, I have to be up there as well. Just do the basics and do what’s right.”

Mbizo face Queens at Harare Sports Club at 17:00 on Monday, putting Useni against fellow Nigerian Jimmy.