By Isaac Afolabi
The Chairman and Technical Director of the Nigeria Squash Federation, Mr. Jonah Attah, has revealed that one of the federation’s key goals is to produce athletes capable of representing Nigeria at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with hopes of achieving a podium finish.
Mr. Attah stated this during a press conference marking the official commencement of the 5th Ex-Professional Squash Tournament at the Ilorin Stadium.
A former national and international squash player, Mr. Attah emphasized that tournaments like this are crucial for identifying and nurturing raw talent. He noted that with the level of skill and the availability of modern squash court in Kwara State, Nigeria has the potential to build a strong team for international competitions.
In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of the Kwara Sports Commission, Mallam Bola Mogaji, commended the state governor, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, for his substantial investment in sports infrastructure. He highlighted that the newly constructed Kwara State squash court is now regarded as the best in West Africa.
Mallam Mogaji added that the new squash court has attracted more tournaments and will soon establish Kwara as a hub for nurturing young talent across various sports.
Chairman of the Squash Ex-Professional Players Association, Miss Laurel Ojo, expressed the association’s dedication to increasing awareness of the sport in the country and mentoring young players using the wealth of experience among former professionals. She extended her gratitude to the federation, the Kwara Sports Commission, Super Eagles striker Taiwo Adeniyi Foundation, and supporters like Prince Sola Adekunle, Mr. Femi Adeyemo, Femi Bakare, and others for their contributions. Miss Ojo also urged government at all level to focus more on aggressive sports development in Nigeria.
In a similar vein, former national squash player, Mr. Yusuf Durosinlorun, encouraged parents and schools to support their children/students in balancing academics with sports, sharing that he is a testament to the success of such an approach.
The three-day tournament features participants from over 15 states and other squash clubs, including representatives from Ondo, Oyo, Lagos, Abuja, Edo, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, and host state Kwara, among others.
Prizes, including new squash rackets, medals, trophies, school bags, and more, will be awarded to winners across different categories, which include U-13, U-15, and U-17.