The newly elected President of Pan-Africa Scrabble Association (PANASA) Ade Adegbesan has promised that, the 15th Edition of the Scrabble Championship to be held in Sierra Leone will be one the best tournament since the inception of the Competition.
He made this statement whilst delivering his closing address of the 14th edition of Africa Scrabble Championship at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia.
He said, hosting the tournament in Sierra Leone will be a big boost to his leadership, and assured the audience that Sierra Leone will take the leading role, as one of the best to host the Africa Scrabble Championship.
He boastfully said that: “Sierra Leone is proud to host such a competition and assured all that he will work with the former President of PANASA, Mohamed Alieu Kamara and the President of National Scrabble Association of Sierra Leone, Christian Asgill to make the 2024 Africa Scrabble Championship in Sierra Leone be a success” he boastfully told members.
He added that they will start engaging airlines as part of early preparation for the next Championship.
However, 86 players from ten countries namely host Zambia, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Gambia and South Africa participated in this year’s tournament.
Speaking after the pronouncement of the hosting right, Christian Asgill, President of National Scrabble Association Sierra Leone said he was delighted, adding that Scrabblers across Africa will enjoy the hospitality in Sierra Leone
Asgill maintained: “We are prepared to host this historic event and we will start by engaging the Sports Minister Ibrahim Nylenkeh and National Sports Authority, Executive Director Kenneth Brima and corporate institutions as part of our strategic plans in making Sierra Leone a proud nation across Africa.
In an interview, with this medium, he emphasized that,: “Scrabble is a game of learning, sharing, and it broadens ones Knowledge, Skill and Aptitude while having fun”
He continued: “Because of the nature of the game, there is an acceptable and mature way to communicate. People who play Scrabble enhance their vocabulary, improve on spelling, and develop better interpersonal skills”.
“The culture of reading has been a huge challenge for our school going pupils, so playing Scrabble will help them in their research and reading ability, so I want to implore our teachers, head mistresses and head masters to encourage their pupils to play the game of Scrabble especially the girls because we want to see Female players reprsenting Sierra Leone.