Scrabble: Timi Doko declares readiness for PANASA President’s Cup

Ifeanyi Eduzor

One of the most gifted and talented scrabble player in Nigeria, Oluwatimilehin Doko says he is battle ready for the forthcoming Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA), President’s Cup scheduled to hold at the Orchid Hotel Ikota-Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria.
Doko said that he is on the final lap of his preparation for the prestigious competition scheduled to hold between the 24th to the 28th of this month.
“I have been reading and planning my strategies for the big event and hopefully everything will fall in place for me.” The final year student of Pharmacy of the University of Lagos said.
Doko, alongside 94 other top scrabble players from Nigeria have dipped their hands into the tiles bags for those premium words and bingos when the event begins on the 24th.
A total of 172 players from 12 African countries and America are heading to Lagos, Nigeria for the inaugural edition of the PANASA President’s Cup and the African Youth Scrabble Championship holding in Lekki-Lagos.
“I know it’s a very strong cast of world class scrabble players coming for the competition but I’m ready for the big fight ahead of me for the top honour at the end of the championship.” Doko who could not make the trip to the WESPA Championship due to visa issue stated.
The soft spoken 21 year old wordsmith who finished fifth at the first edition of the West African Scrabble Championship in Accra, Ghana, has put behind him the disappointment of missing the World Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA last month.
“Its not going to be easy but I have put in a lot of work into my preparation and I hope to light up the competition to make my attendance count.” Doko added.
Other big names in the 95 man contingent representing Nigeria at the President’s Cup include, current Nigeria’s number one player, Nsikak Solomon Etim, current African Champion, Enoch Nwali, two time African King Dennis Ikekeregor as well as West African Champion, Eta Karo. All these players attended the WESPA Championship in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Meanwhile, leading world dairy company Freisland Campina (WAMCO) Nigeria Plc is backing the African Youth Scrabble Championship which holds simultaneously with the President’s Cup.
Freisland Campina (WAMCO) will be providing the AYSC with all the dairy products for the event. These include;
the milk needed for breakfast through out the stay of all contingents in Nigeria, serving youghurt and other refreshment drinks at lunch break at the AYSC and many Freisland Campina WAMCO gift packs for the over 150 kids from around Africa that will grace the competition
Similarly, Kenya Airways, Nigeria Breweries Plc and Diageo Nigeria are also supporting the two-in-one event happening at the Lekki axis of Lagos State.
The President’s Cup is holding at the Orchid hotel Ikota-Lekki while the African Youth Scrabble Championship is taking place at the Chrisland School Lekki.
Delegates and contingents for the events will start arriving Lagos, Nigeria from the 16th of this month.