The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti (OFR) has pledged continued support to the development of the game of Teqball in Abia State.
Speaking through his Commissioner for Sports, Obiora Ananaba, at the kickoff of the 2024 Teqball World Championship Qualifiers at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba, the Governor said that the State decided to play host to the Qualifiers because of the grassroot potentials of Teqball.
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The Commissioner noted that the sport has caught the attention of many youths in the State within it’s a short time after it’s introduction in the State.
According to Ananaba, ‘the decision to introduce Teqball in Abia State and host this qualifiers was influenced by it’s wide acceptance among the youths. It therefore falls in line with our vision of empowering our youths and take many of them off the street’.
The Commissioner who was accompanied by the State Director of Sports, George Obioma and other staff of the Ministry told the crowd at the event that the State’s government ‘s interest in Teqball is a continuous one which he hopes will make the State to become a dream destination for the TEQBALL world. ‘We are already discussing with the Federation to help us in developing our Teqball coaches’.
The Vice President of the Nigerian Teqball Federation, Mr Ndudi Edede, showered encomium on the Abia State Government for all the support to the Federation and the sports in Abia State. He noted that Abia State Teqball is growing fast due to the support of the Governor and the Sports Ministry. Edede said that Nigeria is becoming a force to reckon with in the sport within the short time the sport. He encouraged the players to be focused and determined because great times are coming.
The Qualifiers will producer Nigeria’s flag bearers in 5 categories to the World Teqball Championship which will hold on November 2024. The categories are men’s and ladies Singles, men’s and ladies Double, Ladies Singles as well S mixed double. The venue will be announced by the World body FITEQ later this month.
Though Teqball is barely few years in Nigeria but the sports is already making names for the country in the international scene. The nation’s representative to the TEQBALL World Series which held in Quy Nhon, Vietnam, Victor Oyemade was voted the Tournament’s Most Valuable Player. He is the Nigerian number one player in the sport and top seed at this qualifiers.