Scrabble event ends at NYG 2023, as Team Kwara completes conquest of scrabble event

Posted : 29 September 2023

Team Kwara has completed the conquest of the scrabble competition at the ongoing 7th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State, with gold in the boys team event and silver medal in the girls team event on Thursday at the Multi Purpose Hall of Stephen Keshi Stadium.

Kwara's boys team of Abdulqudus Aliu, Boluwatife Sufyan and Khalid Olosun dominated the category from start to finish and hitting the likes of Bayelsa, Edo, Imo, Anambra and Ogun on the way to glory, picking up 8 wins and a massive 2517 cumulative points in the process.

Bayelsa took the silver medal with 5 wins and minus 438 points and Edo settled for bronze with 4 victories and a minus 311 cumulative points.

The likes of Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Ekiti, Kebbi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Plateau and Rivers could not participate in the team event because they all fell short of the number required to form a team.

The president of Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Engineer Toke Aka, blamed this ugly development on the door steps of the various State Sports Council for lack of foresight and poor planning.

“Most of the State Sports officials don't understand how sports is administered and some focus on football to the detriment of the so called lesser sports.

“Look at most of the States that came with a complete team, are returning home with at least a medal or two to show for their participation.” Aka said.

The girls team event gold went to Plateau State with 7 wins and 1785 cumulative points ahead of Kwara State that got 6 wins with a 1303 points.

Team Ogun came third with 6 wins too but a less cumulative points of plus 1178.

Ogun State's also got bronze the only medal in scrabble event at the 7th National Youth Games despite the huge financial investment committed to the game of words in the Gateway State by the new Chairman of the State Scrabble Association, Adekoyejo Adegbesan in the last 14 months.

Just like in the boys event, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Edo, Ekiti, Lagos, Kebbi, Niger Oyo and Rivers could not field a team despite being at the Games.

At the end of the scrabble competition at the 7th National Youth Games, 8 States registered their presence on the medal table dominated by Kwara State with 3 gold and 2 silver.

Other states on the podium after three days of competition are Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Lagos, Ogun and Plateau.

Abdulqudus Aliu and Boluwatife of Kwara State are the toast and poster kids of the scrabble event. Aliu returns to Ilorin with 3 gold while Sufyan won 2 gold and silver medal in the boys category.

The chairman of Bayelsa State Scrabble Association (BSSSA), Daniel Alabrah is not totally satisfied with the scrabble team's performance of two silver.

“Two silver medals is not bad one but it's not good enough and there is still room for improvement.” Alabrah said.

Alabrah who is also the Chief Press Secretary to the governor of Bayelsa State, further stated that the inclusion of the student category in to the governor Douye Diri National Scrabble Championship is partly responsible for the growth of the game of words in the oil rich coastal State.

“Kwara State build up for the Games was longer and better but I can assure you that, Bayelsa State will improve significantly in subsequent Games and national championship.” Daniel Alabrah a seasoned journalist concluded.

It's noteworthy to state that all the medalists are part of Team Nigeria to the forthcoming coming World Youth Championship in December in Thailand.

However, the team may not make the trip due to lack of funds.

This is the final medal table for scrabble at the 7th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State.

Kwara 3 gold 2 silver
Lagos 1 gold 1 silver
Plateau 1 gold 1 silver
Edo 1 gold 2 bronze
Bayelsa 2 silver
Delta 2 bronze
Anambra 1 bronze
Ogun 1 bronze

Scrabble event ends at NYG 2023, as Team Kwara completes conquest of scrabble event

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