Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja to host Scrabble Festival
By Ifeanyi Eduzor
Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), has picked one of the halls of the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja to host the first edition of the Scrabble Festival and the grand finale of the NSF Inter Club Scrabble championship coming up next month.
The NSF stated that, the hall will be given a facelift that will suit the event and add glamour to it.
The Federation made this known through a circular sent to all the 36 states of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja as well as the 12 clubs that are through to the Inter Club grand finale.
According to the circular, all the participants for the Scrabble Festival are expected to arrive the nation’s capital, Abuja on Sunday the 19th, March while competition starts on Monday 20th and ends on Wednesday 22nd.
Each State will be represented by six players at the Festival and the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), is expecting a record attendance at the event.
Newstap.com understands that, teams competing in the grand finale of the NSF Inter club scrabble championship are expected to move in to their accommodations on the 23rd of March.
The scrabble festival is a 28 rounds of games competition; 1 random, 22 lagged and 5 king of the hill pairings. Each player has 25 minutes per game while 2021 Collins Scrabble Words dictionary is the reference for the event.
As for the Inter club Championship, it’s 20 minutes per game for each player, 15 games in the round robin stage, 5 in the quarter and semi- finals each and 5 in the third placed and final game.
Already the draw for the grand finale of the Inter club championship has been made with the 12 teams divided into three groups of four teams each.
The top two teams in each of the group moves into the quarter- finals while the two best third placed teams from any of the three groups also advance to the last eight.
Yola Scrabble Club, Adamawa, Yenagua Scrabble Club, Warri Scrabble Club and Benin Scrabble Club are in group 1, Enugu Scrabble Club, Apex Scrabble Club of Abuja, Central Scrabble Club Abuja and Safari Scrabble Club of Owerri are in group 2.
Group 3 comprises of South Side Scrabble Club of Kaduna, Ikorodu Scrabble Club, Pyramid A Scrabble Club and Ibadan Scrabble Club .
Meanwhile, President of the Federation, Engineer.Toke Aka, said all the players and their team officials competing in the Inter club scrabble championship grand finale will be accommodated and fed.
“Let me seize this opportunity to congratulate all clubs who will participate in this inter club championship and I say Kudos to all of you.
” This definitely will be the beginning of a new thing for scrabble activity in Nigeria which will involve moving the game from the grassroots to the centre. It is now time to end last year’s league, and this will be done in grand style.
“All clubs are to be fully kitted in their club colours for this event. Clubs should also submit their profiles and players to be featured on our website towards the countdown to the finals.” The President added.
Engineer Toke Aka, appealed to all the scrabble stakeholders to work together to make the Scrabble Festival, the Annual General Meeting and the Inter club championship grand finale truly grand.
The former cricketer turn ‘scrabble expert further stated that a minimum of one million naira awaits the winning club.
In a related development, Chairman of Plateau State Scrabble Association, Mohammed Abbas, whose team, Jos Scrabble Club could not make it to the grand finale from the North Central Zonal has applauded the Federation for the laudable project.
“Kudos must go to the Board for a good job so far. I have no doubt in my mind that the finals shall be a spectacle to behold.” Abbas stated.
The Awards and Gala Night which is the icing on the cake, as it’s name suggest which comes up on Sunday, 26, March will be used to reward and recognize players, coaches, administrators and sponsors who have distinguished themselves since the current board under the stewardship of Engineer Toke Aka, was elected and inaugurated in 2021.
