By Aderonke Ojo
The seventh edition of the squash Ex-Pros in Diaspora Under-11, Under-13 and Under-17 Boys and Girls Tournament has opened a new chapter in Nigeria’s grassroots squash development, with Abuja hosting the competition for the first time after six consecutive editions in Lagos.
Adekunle Adebiyi, Secretary of the Nigerian Squash Players in the Diaspora,said the decision to take the tournament to Abuja has already proved worthwhile, following the impressive turnout of young players from across the country.
Adebiyi said the move was in line with the organisers original vision of taking the tournament beyond Lagos and using it as a platform to discover and nurture young squash talents across Nigeria.
“When we started, our mission was grassroots development in Nigeria. We agreed that we would take the tournament around the country, but the issue of security and other factors came in, and we got stuck in Lagos,” he said.
According to him, the organisers eventually decided that the time had come to take the tournament to Abuja, despite concerns from some quarters that there might not be enough participants.
“We had people saying it would not happen or that we would have five or 10 players at most. But some of us knew that squash is thriving in the North. It is just that they lack support and exposure,” Adebiyi said.
The organisers were therefore encouraged when almost 100 children turned up for the tournament.
“When we came here and saw almost 100 children, it was not a surprise to us. It was a blessing,” he said.
Adebiyi also praised the quality of sporting facilities available in Abuja, saying the city has infrastructure capable of hosting major squash competitions.
He noted that participation in some categories has reached unprecedented levels. The Under-11 category alone has 32 players, compared with the 12 to 14 players the organisers would typically record in Lagos.
The girls’ Under-11 and Under-13 categories have also recorded their highest participation since the tournament began.
“Seeing the joy on these kids’ faces gladdens our hearts. I don’t think money can buy this kind of satisfaction. For us, we believe the decision has been justified,” he said.
Adebiyi disclosed that the Abuja tournament is only one of several opportunities lined up for the young athletes this month.
According to him, the children will proceed to Baba Obasanjo’s tournament next week, while his own memorial tournament, organised in honour of his late mother, will follow the week after.
The memorial tournament will feature squash, tennis and badminton, meaning the young athletes could participate in as many as four competitions within one month.
Adebiyi said the busy schedule would help keep the children engaged while giving them the competitive experience needed to improve their skills.
“That is how we used to play during our own time. We moved from one location to another, to another, to another,” he said.
He added that the foundation’s philosophy remains centred on “Education, Squash and Youth Development through Sports.”
Adebiyi also appealed to individuals, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to support the development of young squash players.
Reflecting on his own career and that of other Nigerian players who went on to establish themselves abroad, he said many of them benefited from the support and opportunities provided by others.
“We were among the luckiest squash players because it was during the era of the military, when most governors, police commissioners and immigration officials played squash. We could enter anywhere,” he recalled.
He said the support they received demonstrated the importance of giving young athletes access to opportunities.
“Some of these kids you see selling groundnuts and going about their daily activities could be the next world champion,” Adebiyi said.
He urged people who have the means to contribute to the development of the children, stressing that even small contributions can have a significant impact.
“People with good hearts who play squash can support them. If they can give a little, a little drop of water will fill a can,” he said.
According to him, Abuja has considerable potential to become a major centre for squash development if stakeholders are willing to invest more in young players.
“I know there is capacity in Abuja. Abuja is loaded. If people can just go a little extra mile, it will make a significant difference,” he said.
With the tournament reaching the semi-final stage ahead of the final, organisers have also prioritised the safety and welfare of the young athletes.
Adebiyi disclosed that a medical station has been established at the venue, while medical personnel are available around the clock. Medical support is also provided at the hostel where the children are staying.
He said the organisers were grateful that there had been no serious injuries during the competition and expressed hope that the final day would pass without incident.
The young participants have also welcomed the opportunity to compete in Abuja.
Williams Goodluck, who is participating in the tournament for the second consecutive year, described the competition as one of the best initiatives for developing young squash players.
He praised the organisers for bringing the event to the North, describing the decision as unique.
“The tournament is actually one of the best that has happened throughout the years,” Goodluck said.
He added that the Abuja edition was particularly significant because it took the competition to a part of the country where many people did not expect it to be hosted.
Goodluck, who was preparing for his semi-final match, expressed confidence that he could progress to the final.
For Blessing Bassey , the tournament has provided an opportunity not only to compete but also to identify areas of her game that require improvement.
After losing her match, Bassey acknowledged that she needed to improve her movement, positioning, service and ability to play good lengths.
She said she would return to training with greater focus on bending properly for the ball, maintaining eye contact with the ball and improving her movement around the court.
Her assessment reflects the developmental objective of the tournament, which seeks to expose young players to competitive squash while helping them understand the areas they need to improve.
Fourteen-year-old Gift Ulysses Awaritoma from Akwa Ibom State is making her fourth appearance at the Squash in Diaspora tournament and has once again reached the final stage.
Awaritoma’s first appearance ended with a gold medal after she won the final. She subsequently reached the semi-final in her second appearance, earning bronze, before exiting at the quarter-final stage in her third outing.
She has now returned to the competition and is once again in the final.
Awaritoma expressed appreciation to the organisers and sponsors for staging the tournament and improving the experience for young players.
“I want to say thank you to the organisers and the sponsors. They did very well this time,” she said.
For 14-year-old Folashade joy Obanuyiwa , the Abuja edition has marked an important milestone in her young career.
Competing in the tournament for the first time, Fulashade has reached the semi-final stage, crediting her performance to applying basic squash techniques such as playing good lengths, keeping her eyes on the ball and getting down properly to play her shots.
She is set to face Awaritoma and is confident about her chances.
“I am going to win the final, by God’s grace,” Folashade said.
The successful relocation of the Squash in Diaspora tournament to Abuja has demonstrated the depth of junior squash talent beyond Lagos and highlighted the potential for the sport to grow across Northern Nigeria.
With strong participation, improved exposure and a growing calendar of competitions, we believe the initiative can help identify and nurture the next generation of Nigerian squash champions.
Adebiyi said that and the Nigerian Squash Players in the Diaspora, however, the tournament represents more than medals and competition. It is about creating opportunities for children, keeping them engaged in productive activities and ensuring that promising talents are identified and supported.
As the final approaches, the smiles, determination and enthusiasm of the young players in Abuja appear to have given the organisers their strongest justification yet for taking the tournament beyond Lagos.
“Seeing the joy on these kids’ faces gladdens our hearts. I don’t think money can buy this kind of satisfaction.”
