Sports
Coach Urges Scrabble Players To Improve Skills
The Scrabble Coach of
Kings College, Victoria Island, Lagos, Wale Ilori, has said that consistently playing with a better opponent would improve the skills of any scrabble player.
Ilori told newsmen at the ongoing ‘Scrabbulympics’ competition holding in Lagos from November 4 to 8 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.
According to him, when a player continually plays with someone on a higher level than himself, he will be forced to improve his skills and strategies in the game.
“It is a simple theory in life. When you want to become great, challenge those who are better than you in the field you intend to develop yourself in.
“When you engage those who are better than you in a specific field, you unknowingly improve on yourself, to even become better than your superiors,” he said.
Ilori, who represented the country at the 2010 Africa Scrabble Championship in Ghana, said that constantly studying the dictionary would also help to improve one’s knowledge of words.
“When you study the dictionary, you inevitably develop and improve in the volume of words you know,” he said.
Ilori also said that part of becoming a better player would be to understand the concept of hooks, which is a crucial strategy in scrabble.
He described hooks as tiles on the board, which you can add to, in order to create stronger and higher scoring words.
“This will increase your chances of scoring very high points, while using fewer letters on the game board,” he said.
Ilori added that the country had enough talents that could easily master the concept of becoming better players in scrabble.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.