Dates for the passage of players who will represent Ogun State in the forthcoming National Sports Festival which is scheduled for early next year has been revealed.
The trials which spans from July to November this year will see a total number of 35 players including West African Scrabble Championship winner Timilehin Doko, engage one another in four categories namely: Master, Intermediate, Open and Female categories.
Four players each will qualify for each categories.
According to the released schedule by the Ogun State Scrabble Association (OSSA), players will begin their race to the ‘2024 Gateway Games’ from July 20 to 21 which is the first weekend of the trials while the second-leg of the staggered qualifiers will hold from August 24 to 25.
September 21 to 22, November
2, 3, 23 and 24 are the other dates slated for the qualifiers.
The 16 qualified players will then proceed on camping on a date yet to be announced.
All games will hold at the OSSA playing arena, Old Trafford at Ijeja, Abeokuta.
Meanwhile, the OSSA has concluded arrangements for accommodation and transportation allowance for players coming from outside Abeokuta while all invited players will receive daily camp allowance.
OSSA Chairman Adekoyejo Adegbesan said that every arrangement has been fine tuned for the best of Jammers to emerge from the staggered-qualifying race.
According to him, ” It’s with gladness that we are announcing the process of selection of four players each for the four categories of Master, Intermediate, Open and Female categories for the 2024 Gateway Games which we all know as the National Sports Festival. So as a forward-looking Association of the hosting State, it’s strategic that we activate a vibrant path to choose those who will give us quality representation and earn us some top medals at the Games. That’s why we are inviting 35 of our players led by West African Scrabble Championship title holder and our top ranked star Timilehin Doko to a five-weekend of Trials from July to November this year. 50 round of games will be played during the 10 days.”
On making the players comfortable during the period of the selection process, Adegbesan stated that “the Scrabble Association will pay for accommodation, transportation allowance for players coming from outside Abeokuta and also daily camp allowances”he said.
Players representing the state have been in an intimidating form of late as Samuel Adebola and player/coach Bukunmi Afolayan in June won the BSP Scrabble Tournament Class A and B titles respectively in Lagos while Adebisi Adekansi created history as the first player to win two gold medals in female single and double events of the delayed 2023 African Games in Accra Ghana in March.
