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African Scrabble Tourney Begins By Ayodeji Fashikun Today, in the Tanzanian capital of Dar-es-Salam, Nigeria begins the quest to wrest back the African title that she lost to South Africa in the last edition of the African Championship in Nairobi, Kenya. The Nigerian team departed the Murtala Moha-mmed Airport aboard Ethiopian Airline at 3:45pm yesterday. In the Nigerian squad, which had to be trimmed down as a result of cash squeeze includes two former African champions, United Kingdom-based Femi Awowade, who was champion in 1996 and Moshood Sanni, the 2000 champion. Others in the team are the current Grand Master Ayokunle Fasheyiro, Dennis Ikekeregor, and Sunday Oshodi. The leader of delegation is the President of the Federation, Engineer Toke Aka. In the last edition of the championship, Trevor Hovelmeier won 18 games winning with a margin of 558 beating Nigeria's Segun Durojaiye. Eight other Nigerians were in the top 25. Looking at the current placing, the Nigerians in this year's tourney have improved tremendously. Ayo Fashiyiro, who placed 20th in 2002 is the Nigerian Grand Master. Nigeria's only female member of the team, Motolani Ayo-Awojobi was 24th, had sent in her regrets for not being able to attend this year. Africa's number two, Durojaiye had been choked with work and could not qualify from the few matches he played. Chinedu Okwelogu (6) did not qualify. Oshodi who came 7th, Ikekeregor (8th), Sanni (9th) made the team this time again. Tunde Adigun (17) and Lukeman Owolabi (25) could not make the squad. High points of the last edition include Silvano Adel of Tanzania who had the record of the high game score of 631, while Dr (Mrs) Wenwa Akinyi (15) of Kenya had the high word score, Skelping with 208 points while Ikekeregor had the highest bonus of 51. Nigerian former Grand Master, Lanre Oyegunle, will however be competing for South Africa in the championship. Nigerians had won four of the five titles with Iffy Onyeonwu being the first champion in 1994, Awowade (1996), Jimoh Saheed (2998), Sanni (2000) and Hovelmeier (2002). Who Are We ? | About THISDAYOnLine.com | THISDAY People | Contact Us © Copyright 2000 Leaders & Company Limited

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