In The News

Luxurious Hillview Guest Centre, Accra To Host Special Scrabble Side Event At 13th African Games

Published

10 months ago

January 15, 2024

The Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA), have picked luxurious Hillview Guest Centrr, one of the top hotels in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, to host the Special Scrabble Side Event during the 13th African Games, in March this year.

We gathered that the continental governing body of the game of words carefully selected Hillview Guest Center, Accra, because of it’s serenity, world class facilities and services, coupled with it’s location.

The President of PANASA, Adekoyejo Adegbesan said that the 80 players and officials will be adequately accommodated in the 120 holiday paradise rooms of Hillview Guest Center, that is about 11 miles from the iconic Kotoka International Airport, Accra.

“You know, to get the very best from any sports man or woman, the environment must be near perfect, the services around them, coupled with good food in a friendly setting is needed and that’s what PANASA is offering the players and officials with our choice of Hillview Guest Center, Accra.” Adegbesan stated.

Over 65 players from Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Uganda have registered for the three-day competition which starts on the 15th and ends on the 17th of March.

Among the over 45 Nigerians that have indicated their interest in the Side Event are Nigerians in the diaspora, led by former African Champion, Femi Awowade, who is also a Scrabble Hall of Fame nominee.

Ayotunde Adeyeri and Fidelis Bruce-Olotu are other Nigerians in the diaspora who have throw their hands in, for the titanic, gripping and equally grueling rounds of games.

Two other Scrabble Hall of Fame nominees, Segun Adegbenro of Nigeria and Ghana’s Michael Ofori, a former President of PANASA and also a Hall Fame nominee are battle be ready for the heavyweight wordsmith confrontation.

Meanwhile, the World English Scrabble Players Association, (WESPA), has nominated Lukman Owolabi, an executive committee member to represent them at the African Games and we understand that Owolabi will be competing for honours and bragging rights 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 it has been expanded to 80 players due to huge entries received so far for the competition.

The President of PANASA, Adekoyejo Adegbesan, further noted that about 2,500 dollars has been set aside as prize money with the winner smiling home with 1,000 dollars and half that amount goes to the second 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 groundbreaking 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 your Form B. This deadline is sacrosanct to allow the LOC complete their own documentation.” Adegbesan who knows in the scrabble circuit as Sheikh stressed.

The 13th African 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.

The Side Event is also part of the Pan African Scrabble Association (PANASA), 30th year anniversary celebration.

Author

Ambrose Ijeh

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In The News

2nd Musa Kida Basketball Tourney: Estate Kings, SDM Academy Emerge Champions

Published

4 days ago

November 11, 2024

Ambrose Ijeh

The Abesan community and its axis of Lagos State came alive on Sunday, when the finals of the 2nd edition of Musa Kida Basketball Competition held at the Abesan Mini-Stadium.

The first game of the day was between JF Warriors who defeated Heat Kings 14-12 to win the third place in the boys category. While SDM Academy emerged winners in the girls category with a 13-2 win over Heat Kings in the final.

The final game in the boys category could be described as a David against Goliat clash, as smallish Warlords Academy gave their bigger opponents Estate Kings, a run for their lives in the game that had the appreciable crowd baying for more end to end actions from the first jump ball.At the end of the pulsating game, Estate Kings edged hard-fighting Warlords Academy 46-32 to emerge the champions.

In his goodwill message, the sponsor, Engr. Musa Kida, who was ably represented by his media aide, Asiwaju Akeem Busari, thanked the organisers Wonderland Sports, led by Tayo Adeyemo, as well as, the teams and officials on the organisation, standards of play and high level of discipline during the competition.

He promised to continue to do more in his personal capacity towards the development of basketball in Nigeria, even as he promised to ensure the competition gets better and bigger in subsequent editions.

Author

Ambrose Ijeh

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In The News

Nigerian Paralympians Honoured At A Gala Night In Lagos

Published

3 weeks ago

October 28, 2024

Ambrose Ijeh

Friday 25 October 2024 was a day to be remembered in the lives of Nigerian athletes who represented the country at the 2024 Paralympic Games held in Paris, France as the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria (PCN) organised a gala night to appreciate them as worthy ambassadors.

The gala night held at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Sheraton Ikeja, Lagos, also witnessed the award of Patronage to sports-loving Lagos State Governor Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi, and other notable Nigerians who have identified with the course of the Paralympic Movement in the country.

In his goodwill message, the Governor of Lagos, represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr. Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende, described the athletes as gifted Nigerians who used their talents to make the entire nation proud in Paris.

“These athletes have shown us that there is an ability in disability. This night is a historical event to celebrate the outstanding of our paralympic athletes and the PCN Board for doing a great job.

“I appreciate the performance of our athletes at the Paris Paralympics to bring glory to our nation.

They have demonstrated that no challenges are surmountable.

“For more than two decades our para-athletes have demonstrated excellence with their gift to do the nation proud,” Sanwo-Olu said.

Speaking on the PCN’s award of patronage to him, the governor noted that “I am happy to be decorated as a Patron. There is no doubt that para-sports have elevated Nigeria’s global profile.

“I pledge as a Patron to always advocate for greater investment in sports. I want to commend the Board of the Paralympic Committee of Nigeria for its unwavering dedication to taking the game to the next level,” the governor said.

To the President of PCN, Mr Sunday Odebode, “This gala night is organized to celebrate all Nigeria’s 2024 Paris Paralympics medalists. They have done us proud.”

The PCN boss the board is leaving nothing to chance to ensure that the athletes perform better in the future, adding that “to tackle current challenges, our executive board is excited to unveil the next phase of our vision; the N2.7 billion Paralympic Village Multipurpose Hall, a state of the art facility to support our athletes training and development,” Odebode said.

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Ambrose Ijeh

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In The News

Nike Girls Academy Product, Janet Semenya Makes Nigeria’s Senior National Team Call-up For Algeria Friendly

Published

4 weeks ago

October 21, 2024

Ambrose Ijeh

Super Falcons interim coach, Justin Madugu has listed six foreign-based professionals and Nigeria womens pre-season league highest goal scorer Janet Semenya who currently plays for Nasarawa Amazon for Nigeria’s upcoming friendlies against Algeria.

Janet who netted eight goals in four games for Nasarawa Amazon to become the leading and the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of Betty obaseki Pre-season Women’s League and win the tourney will feature for Nigeria in the international friendly games slated for Lagos.

Semenya In 2020 had represented Hallelujah Queens of Ikeja, Lagos, a youth football club, she later moved to Asisat Oshoala Academy girls on loan where she scored 28 goals in 12 games. She was also the leading goal scorer for the Nike sponsored academy during the Federation Cup until she moved to Nasarawa Amazon.

The overseas stars called up by Madugu are goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie (Paris FC), captain Rasheedat Ajibade (Atletico Madrid), Deborah Abiodun (University of Pittsburg), Monday Gift (UD Tenerife) and Esther Onyenazide (Hapoel Katamon).

The players will prosecute the friendlies alongside their home-based counterparts.

The friendlies are slated for October 26 and October 29.

The two matches will be played at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.

Nigeria and Algeria will use the friendlies to prepare for the 2024 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations.