By Aderonke Ojo
Engineer Iniobong Jacob has expressed satisfaction with the progress of young squash players participating in the seventh edition of the Squash in Diaspora Under-11, Under-13 and Under-17 Boys and Girls Junior Championship held in Abuja.
Speaking on the sidelines of the closing ceremony, Jacob described the performances of the young athletes as encouraging, noting that several of the players who competed at the tournament had started from modest beginnings and had improved significantly over the years.
“Some of the young boys and girls you see here are people who started playing in tournaments like this years ago.
“They would lose by 3-0 margins and things like that. But over time, they have progressed steadily, and I am very happy to see what has happened today,” he said.
Jacob said there was still considerable room for improvement, stressing the need for greater exposure, equipment, coaching and strategic collaborations to help the youngsters reach their full potential.
“I think it is very encouraging for us, and we intend to continue doing more. There are still a lot of lapses. They are not there yet, but it is very encouraging,” he said.
He added that efforts would be intensified to secure more equipment and establish partnerships that would provide the athletes with better opportunities for development.
Jacob, who has been involved in squash for about 15 years, said his commitment to the sport was largely driven by a personal experience that transformed his perspective on physical fitness.
According to him, he came from a family with a background in lawn tennis but switched to squash after experiencing a health challenge involving elevated blood pressure.
“I take it very personally. I came from a family that played lawn tennis, but about 15 years ago, I switched to squash,” he said.
He explained that his coach introduced him to squash during the period, after which he experienced significant improvement in his well-being.
“My coach, who is also here, put me through the game steadily, and without any medication, it normalized naturally.
“ At that point, I said to myself, if there is a game that can do this, then I am going to get hooked. I have not held a lawn tennis racket since then,” he said.
Jacob said his passion subsequently extended beyond personal participation to using squash as a platform for mentoring young people.
He explained that what started as a private court at home gradually developed into a training platform for children in the neighbourhood, many of whom were introduced to the sport through curiosity and word of mouth.
“We did not even plan to have an academy. We simply built a private court at home. The children you see today are undeserved kids who started coming one by one,” he said.
According to him, the initiative has grown significantly, with about 47 children now participating in squash activities on a single court.
He noted that the programme has also produced athletes who have represented Nigeria internationally, including a female player who was part of the Nigerian team to Canada.
Beyond sporting development, Jacob said the initiative was also designed to provide mentorship and positive guidance for children.
“These children do not loiter on the streets anymore. We use the platform to disciple and mentor them in character and behaviour. So, it is not just squash,” he said.
He explained that the programme involves regular interaction with the children, their parents and families, as well as activities aimed at supporting their character development.
Jacob said the holistic approach was important because sporting development should go hand in hand with responsible upbringing and positive values.
Jacob also commended former Nigerian squash professionals living abroad for their continued contribution to the development of young players in the country.
He noted that many of the former players, now based in the United Kingdom, United States and Canada, had chosen to give back to the sport that contributed to their personal and professional development.
“What the Ex-Pros have done is very commendable. These are people whom squash helped to become who they are. They are now in London, the UK, the United States and Canada, and they are giving back to these youngsters,” he said.
He described their contribution as a demonstration of appreciation and responsibility towards the development of the next generation of Nigerian squash players.
Jacob also praised the organisers for rotating the championship from Lagos to Abuja after six years, saying the decision would help take the sport to new communities and expand its reach.
“The fact that they have also started rotating the tournament is commendable. The last six years were in Lagos, but they decided to move it to Abuja to bring the sport closer to another community,” he said.
Calls for More Coaching, Partnerships and International Exposure
Looking ahead, Jacob said the experience from the championship had highlighted areas requiring greater attention, particularly coaching, technical skills and international exposure.
He said Nigerian junior players had performed creditably on the global stage despite some technical shortcomings, adding that the right support could help them compete successfully beyond the African level.
“If you saw how our athletes performed on the global stage, they did well for a first-time outing, but you could tell that there were certain shortages in skills,” he said.
He called for stronger partnerships with experienced coaches and former professionals who could provide specialised mentoring, skills development and technical programmes for the athletes.
“I am seeing a situation where we can raise their game so that they do not just compete at the African level but also compete internationally and bring medals home for the country,” he said.
He added that there was a need to explore strategic partnerships and involve former professionals with international experience in developing the next generation of players.
“There is a lot of room for improvement,” he stated.
Jacob expressed confidence that with sustained investment, quality coaching, equipment, mentorship and international exposure, Nigeria’s young squash players could attain higher levels of performance and compete successfully on the world stage.
Also thank the NSF president Wilson Sunday and the entire board and also Nigerian squash development forum for their continued support and partnership.
