The Jacob Esuene Squash Club in Eket has intensified preparedness for the 2021 season for its athletes. This is coming after eight months of inactivity due to the outbreak of Corona-virus Disease (COVID-19) with the club putting together a two-day inhouse competition tagged "End of Year Tournament Amidst Covid". The competition organized in six categories are: U-10 boys and girls, U-13 boys and girls, U-16 boys and girls, U-19 boys and girls, as well as club men and women, who battled for supremacy and warm-up for a new season after months of break.
The Chairman of the club, a member of the Akwa Ibom State Squash Association, Engr. Iniobong Esuene, in his remark at the two-day tournament which took place at the Jacob Esuene Squash Court Complex, Eket from December 22-24, 2020, expressed delight that the players were able to play again together after the long break while observing the necessary safety protocols and thanked the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) for lifting ban on sports in the country. According to him, "As you know, the year has not been very eventful with the pandemic. For the past eight months our players have been training individually at home. When I heard the ban on sports was lifted, I was excited to have our athletes back and training in groups. The head coach, Ibanga Etukudo and I thought of plans to keep them in shape and their fitness level on top ahead of next season and decided on organising a two-day event to close the year. He also said so far, the club has produced the current National U-13 second seed and South- South Champion in Miss Delight Temple. He noted that with the level of play and abundance of talents , the players will win medals domestically and internationally for Nigeria in years to come.
Also speaking, the head coach, Mr. Ibanga Etukudo, encouraged players to remain focus and put into practice all that they have learnt during the tournament as they prepare for a busy 2021 season starting with invitational tournaments in Lagos, the National Sports Festival - Edo 2020, and three other tournaments in South Africa and Kenya. In his words, "We have invitations from organizers of squash tournaments in Lagos, South Africa, Kenya for next year, so I want my players to stay focused, fit and ready for any challenges. This end of year tournament, Amidst COVID-19, will help them prepare for the new year ahead.
Meanwhile, Mitcheal Ibanga emerged winner in both U-10 and U-13 boys category. Also Gift Ulisis won both U-10 and U-13 girls category. For U-16 boys, Promise James emerged first, Delight Temple took U-16 girls. In the U-19 boys category, Daniel Isaac won , while Delight Temple won in the U-19 girls. In the club's men category, Capt. Fred Udoakagha emerged winner, while Mercy Koffi won in the women category.
Check out OUR GALLERY for more pictures from the tournament.
Check out OUR GALLERY for more pictures from the tournament.