African Youth Scrabble Championship Trophy to tour the continent
By Maxwell Kumoye
The Main Organizing Committee (MOC) for the maiden edition of the Pan African Scrabble Association PANASA President’s Cup and the African Youth Scrabble Championship (AYSC), have concluded arrangement for a historic Trophy Tour for the AYSC trophy, the Dr Winifred Awosika Cup.
The President of Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA), Adekoyejo Adegbesan, made this known at the weekend in an interview with your authoritative scrabble news channel FIRST ZEALMEDIACAST BLOG.
The Trophy Tour is one of the significant activities planned by the continental body of the game of words and mind at making the AYSC a household name on the continent and beyond.
Adegbesan stated that, the Trophy Tour will begin on the first to the third of May, 2023 in Accra, Ghanaian capital.
While in Accra, Ghana, the President of Pan African Scrabble Association, Adekoyejo Adegbesan and the President of Scrabble Association of Ghana, Mr. Haruna Adamu, will pay a courtesy visit to the Ghana Youth and Sports Minister, 44 year old Honourable Mustapha Ussif and the President of Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC), Ben Nunoo Mensah.
Pan Africa Scrabble Association (PANASA) President Adekoyejo Adegbesan said “this is a fresh strategy at creating a real feel and inspiration to many of African children and young adults. The AYSC Trophy Tour is also meant to activate the interest and spread awareness at the grassroots on the prospects and possibilities they can achieve as scrabble players.”
From Accra the Africa Trophy Tour will move to Kenya, then to Nigeria, Liberia and Uganda.
The cities of Eldoret and Nairobi in Kenya is the next port of call for the AYSC Trophy Tour from the 6th to the 9th of May. Just like in Ghana, the trophy which is nickel plated and made by Swatkins will tour landmark schools in the East African country.
The President of Pan African Scrabble Association, Adekoyejo Adegbesan, stated that the Dr Winifred Awosika AYSC trophy will be received in the Centre of Excellence by the recently re-elected governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu alongside top Lagos State Government officials and some key Sports stakeholders.
The Lagos AYSC Trophy Tour which will run for three days, starts on the 15th and ends on the 17th of May.
Come the 19th to 22nd of May, the Dr Winifred Awosika Trophy will be touring the homeland of former World footballer year, George Opong Weah’s Liberia.
Kids in Gulu and Kampala are the cities in Uganda that will have rear privilege of feeling the nickel plated trophy from the 25th to the 27th of May before it returning to the PANASA secretariat in Lagos, Nigeria.
The biggest and richest Youth Scrabble Championship on the continent of Africa, The AYSC Cup, has been scheduled to hold between the 24th and 28th of August at the Chrisland School Idimu-Lagos, Nigeria.
Adekoyejo Adegbesan, who is also the Chairman of Ogun State Scrabble Association (OSSA), stated that the AYSC is the vehicle to drive the growth and spread the game of words among young Nigerians and their African counterpart as PANASA will put up an event that will linger in their minds and hearts for a very long time to come.
The two-in-one event will not only showcase and add some panache to the sport of scrabble but will also project Lagos, the fifth largest economy in Africa to the World in a fashion that will add some gloss to it.
“We will offer all the young talented scrabble kids of Africa and their accompanied delegates who will be in Idimu-Lagos for the African Youth Scrabble Championship the very best of Nigeria hospitality, culture and traditions in a captivating environment that will leave a lasting legacy.” The President, fondly called Sheikh added.
Over a hundred and twenty children from 12 African countries are expected to compete for honours in two categories, U-15 and U-19 Championship with mouth watering and finger licking prizes on offer.
The Pan African Scrabble Association PANASA is footing the bills of all the scrabble kids of Africa while in Nigeria.
This is the timeline for the AYSC, Dr Winifred Awosika Trophy Tour:
May 1-3: Accra, Ghana
May 6-7: Eldoret, Kenya
May 8-9: Nairobi, Kenya
May 15-17: Lagos, Nigeria
May 19-22: Monrovia, Liberia
May 25-27: Gulu, Kampala, Uganda
