Nigerians, Ghanaians, others to battle for N2.5 million special scrabble side event at African Games
Over thirty five Nigerian wordsmith have entered for the special side event scheduled to hold before the scrabble event of the 13th All Africa Games, taking place in three Ghanaian cities.
The list of scrabble players heading to Accra for the Special Side event is led by African Youth Scrabble Championship (AYSC) winner, David Ojih.University of Lagos (UNILAG) student, Musa Lateef, the 2023 King of the Scrabble In The Jungle is also heading to Accra for the Special Side event alongside, Emmanuel Enyi.
Joy Ola, is one of the talented young scrabble amazons along with Grace Jompe that is also making the trip to the West African country that is rich in oil, gold, cocoa and scrabble disciplines.
Other household names in the scrabble fraternity in Nigeria who will be in Ghana are, Engineer Ojior Osikhena, Engineer Adowei, Engineer Dipo Akanbi, Emmanuel Egbele, Austin Isiekwe, Hakeem Olaribigbe, Tunde Saporu and Olumide Oyejide.
The Technical Director of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), John Curtis and coach of Scrabble Team Nigeria, Prince Anthony Ikolo and Uganda’s Chris Ntege will also be competing for honours at the event.
The side event put together by the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA) in conjunction with the Scrabble Association of Ghana (SCAG) was initially open to fifty participants but may be expanded due to huge entries received so far and it’s a three day competition.
The President of PANASA, Adekoyejo Adegbesan noted that about $ 2,500 has been set aside as prize money with the winner smiling home with $1,000 and half of that amount goes to the second best placed player.
Adekoyejo Adegbesan, who is also the chairman of Ogun State Scrabble Association (OSSA), stated that the side event is part of the continental governing body of the game of words to add panache as well as drive the growth of the sports.
“As many already know, our sport will feature at the 13th African Games in Ghana some weeks from now. To ensure we give members of our community an opportunity to be part of this ground breaking event, we have decided to host a side event alongside the games of the championship.” Adegbesan noted.
The tech expert who is 15 months old as the boss of PANASA further explained, “Players for the side event will be added to the Accreditation list and will be considered as athletes partaking in the games. Such players will at all times wear their Accreditation badges throughout the games.
There is a deadline for submission of Form B. This deadline is sacrosanct to allow the LOC complete their own documentation.” Adegbesan who is known in scrabble circuit as Sheikh stressed.
The 13th All Africa Games Scrabble Main Event will see competitive Scrabble played between male and female teams.
Each country (except the host who are allowed more) will produce a team of 3 players each for their men and female team
Countries that do not have a male and female team are allowed to come with either. PANASA will be providing everything free for players in this category.
Your authoritative medium, understands that the Side Event is also part of the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA), 30th year anniversary celebration.
