Mr Egberipou Wilson, a Board member of the Nigeria Squash Federation (NSF), has urged stakeholders in the South-South region to invest more on squash tournament.
Wilson said this when he briefed newsmen at the opening of the first Anayi Egbeita national Squash championship in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
Wilson, who is also the Chairman Anayi Foundation, said that the four-day national professional Squash players competition sponsored by Anayi Foundation would help to curb youth restiveness in the country.
He said that the competition which featured over 119 players from different states in the country will keep young boys and girls, men and ladies who have interest in sports busy and away from crime.
“Squash as we know has been comatose for some time and we are trying to resuscitate the game, its going on across the regions and we don’t want to be left aside in the South-South region.
“Its going to bring squash closer to the South-South and give us enough exposure, especially to those that registered with the Professional Squash Players Association of Nigeria, (PSPA).
“This tournament is important as its going to provide opportunities for the players within the South-South region to compete favourably with their counterparts in other regions of the country,’’ he said.
According to him, there are prizes to be won in the first 16 senior category, and also in the U-16 and U-19 junior category.
Speaking on the challenges facing the sport, he mentioned abandonment of facilities meant for the game, saying that a lot of facilities were lying fallow due to lack of support from stakeholders and corporate bodies.
He also mentioned finance as another challenge, while calling for sponsors to invest in the game.
“This is a clarion call to all key stakeholders, lovers of squash game, especially within the South-South region to take up this challenge so that we can have more of such tournament.
“We are trying to get sponsors involved, get coaches to train young Nigerians making use of these facilities that are lying fallow because if they are not used, other people will use them for some other activities.
“The rackets are expensive, and their shoes, so we need cooperate sponsors and individuals that will put in money and sponsor kids, and also rant them scholarship with stipends as they play the game,” he said.
Mrs Monica Otumala, the National Secretary of NSF, said the sport had potential to grow.
According to Otumala, the sports is one of the veritable tools that is used by government and cooperate bodies to curb youth vices.
“With what we are implementing on squash, you will soon see the game becoming the number one sport just like we have in football, athletics, weight lifting and wrestling,” she said.
She called on government and cooperate bodies to invest more on sports tournaments to take youths and young Nigerians from the streets, make them useful, productive and better citizens. (NAN)
