NYG: Record entry in Scrabble as Team Kwara promises dominance

 A record 99 players from 21 States have been cleared to compete for honours in the scrabble event at the 8th National Youth Games ongoing in Asaba.

The players will be competing for honours in the boys’ and girls’ doubles, boys’ and girls’ singles and the team event for boys and girls. The Multi-Purpose Hall of Stephen Keshi Stadium is the venue for  the Scrabble competition, and it will run for three days.

The President of Nigeria Scrabble Federation, Engineer Toke Aka says the young wordsmiths in Asaba are the future of the game not only in Nigeria but the world.

He said, “The NSF will continue to open up the space for the game of scrabble to blossom, by reaching out to schools where we can catch them young.

“We know most of the youngsters in attendance, we also know what they can bring to the board, however there will be lots of upsets as new faces are ready to show their word power, tactical play, board management, mental strength and as well as their dexterity on the board.”

At the last National Youth Games, 70 players from 17 States participated in the scrabble event.

Team Kwara that dominated the last Games has promised to repeat the feat in Asaba. Three members of the current team were in Asaba some 12 months ago. They are team captain Khalid Olosun, Funmilayo Balqis and Hadiya Olokoju.

Two members of Team Kwara Abdulqudus Olawale Aliu and Sufyan Boluwatife Olojoku who were at the last National Youth Games, just returned from the World Youth Championship in Sri Lanka.

This is Team Kwara Scrabble:

Boys

1. Olosun Khalid – Captain

2. Olojoku Hassan Olamide

3. Ibrahim Basit Zarumi

Girls 

1. Ajao Balqis Funmilayo 

2. Olojoku Hadiyah

3. Abdullateef Aishat

Coach:

Hassan Olojoku Abdulrafiu