12th March, 2012
Nigeria Squash Federation has concluded arrangement to organise the maiden Calabar Easter National Open Junior Championship from 26-31 March.
The tournament, sponsored by friends of squash in Cross River State, will be staged at the U.J. Esuene Stadium and Akim Barracks Squash Complex.
President of the federation, Rotarian Olufemi Rotimi Agbaje, said that the tourney, which will feature at least 360 players in boys’ and girls’ categories across the federation, is part of the federation’s programme lined up to catch them young this year.
According to Agbaje, over N2 million has been earmarked as prize monies, with the winners in both boys’ and girls’ categories taking home the sum of N100,000 each, adding that the new champions will represent Nigeria at the All Africa Junior Squash Championship, which will be held in Zimbabwe in April.
He, however, assured that effort will be taken to address the issue of age cheat in the competition, as the federation has a verifiable data base of all the players coming for the tournament.
“I want to appreciate our sponsors, friends of squash in Cross River State, our chief host, Cross River State Government, the 1st Vice President of the federation, Brigadier General Shehu Yusuf, the Brigade Commander, 13th Brigade Command, Nigerian Army, Calabar, who is also the chairman of the Technical Committee of the federation for their support,” he said.
Meanwhile, the president said that the federation will leave nothing to chance to ensure that the sport is developed in the country.
“It has always been the aim of the federation to ensure that squash takes its rightful place in the country. I believe the future of the sport is bright in Nigeria, considering the pace of its growth over the years,” he said.
—Taiwo Adelu