Hitting the ground running, the newly inaugurated board of the Ogun State Scrabble Association (OSSA) has remodelled it’s secretariat and procured some top- of-the-range equipment in preparation for it’s trials ahead of the 2022 National Sports Festival slated for Asaba, Delta State.
The Adekoyejo Adegbesan-led board which was sworn-in on August 26 has moved swiftly in restoring confidence among scrabble stakeholders across the state by converting the former office space where coaches stay to a lush and conducive playing hall at the Ogun State Sports Centre, Ijeja, Abeokuta.
The renovation which was carried out under 10 days, notably underscores the urgency and proactiveness of the board in creating a fresh future for scrabble in the state.
Sitting on a bare floor, the room could only boast of two weather-beaten tables, three worn-out chairs , a bench and a dusty shelf.
But now, a visit to the same spot showed a sharp contrast to what it was before the OSSA Board was inaugurated.
The room has now been partitioned into a mini-hall that comfortably occupies five table and some chairs, standing stoutly on a green coloured-rug which covered every inch of the floor.
The walls were also covered in lively colours of green and white which conote the fertility and peaceful nature of Ogun state.
The air-conditioned Hall also had it’s cemented ceiling covered with a suspended version while the louvre windows have given ways to more fancy and urbane aluminium fittings which are the best in the market.
Aside these structural changes, the baord went further in acquiring some of the the best playing equipment which are of international standards.
To this end, new playing equipment consisting of five boards, five clocks and five Pro tiles have been secured as a way of raisng standards in the sports.
These set of playing equipment are top of the best in international tournaments.
Adegbesan further spoke on the purpose of these strategic developments in the OSSA.
“With the National Sports Festival coming up early in November and as part of this new exco’s short term (Quick Win) strategy, it was important that we not only remodel the playing hall approved for Scrabble at the Alake Sports Centre, Ijeja but to also invest in the best Scrabble equipment for our players. This will keep their morale high ahead of our Trials starting on Tuesday, 13th September 2022. We hope that the players will show good faith by maintaining these new facilities even beyond our tenure.”
Meanwhile, a total of 30 players comprising eight in the Masters, nine in Intermediate and seven in Opens with six in the Female category has been invited to camp for trials in preparation for the forthcoming National Sports Festival taking place in Asaba, Delta State from November 2-15 this year.
Four players will be selected from each category.
The staggered trials scheduled to hold from September 13 to 30 will see both the Opens and the Female categories compete for the limited slots from September 13 to 15 while Masters and the Intermediate categories will take to the board in 28 games in a round robin and King Of the Hill format from 16th to18th of the same month.
All players according to the letter containing the schedule as signed by the Chairman, will then, converge for proper camping ahead for the Festival at the Ogun State Sports Centre, Ijeja, Abeokuta from 19 to 30.
At the end, the top three in each group will qualify directly while the fourth players will qualify as a reserve for the fiesta in the South-South city of Asaba.
LIST OF OGUN STATE SCRABBLE ASSOCIATION
PROSPECTIVE PLAYERS FOR NSF 2022
MASTERS 8
Doko Timilehin (1583),
Olumide Oyejide (1504),
Adebola Samuel (1478)
Adeniran Taiwo (1456)
Ogedengbe Olawale (1451)
Adeyemi Adeosun (1433)
Babajide Alagbada (1415)
Gbadebo Olufemi (1401)
INTERMEDIATE 9
Okusanya Bimbo (1399)
Lawrence Abiodun (1269)
Sanya Adebola (1230)
David Ojih (1229)
Aiyewunmi Adeyinka (1222)
Sobowale Olumide (1183)
Adedeji Khaleel (1173)
Adeagbo Babatunde (1170)
Musa Lateef (1102)
OPENS 7
Gbolahan Ogunsola (1067)
Saporu Tunde (1036)
Oladipo Michael (985)
Samuel Onifade (980)
Yusuf Simpa (969)
Qaudri Oladimeji (963)
Ogunjobi Leke (961)
FEMALE (6)
Afolayan Bukunmi (1416)
Adebisi Adekansi (1244)
Lawrence Adesola (821)
Grace Jompe (761)
Adedayo Aragbuwa (622)
Obanubi Faith (517)
