The Abuja Squash League, now in its third season, reached its climax on Saturday March 29, 2025, as players competed fiercely for points.
The league, which runs from January to December 2025, sees participants accumulating points every month, with the grand finale scheduled for end of the year.
Ndana Abdulrazak, Vice Chairman of the Abuja Splash Club, expressed his excitement about the players’ skills and technicalities.
“You can see how they move to the ball intelligently… the game of squash is for strong men… you can see how they exhibit strength and stamina,” he said.
Abdulrazak praised the improvement in the players’ skills, noting that they can now compete with players from Lagos.
“We are happy that they can even compete with those guys from Lagos,” he said.
Bala Adamu Abubakar, Chairman of the BSL and organisers of the tournament, expressed satisfaction with the players’ turnout.
“More players are coming in their numbers… we had about 10-15 players in January, same in February, but for March, we had almost 20 players and 4-5 females,” he said.
Abubakar noted that the players have improved significantly, citing the example of the final match, which saw a 3-2 result, compared to the previous 3-0 result.
“The players have improved… if you check the final, these same people that played the final this January, they played the game this month… the last result was 3-0, but this time it was 3-2,” he said.
Jonah Atta, Technical Director of the Nigeria Squash Federation, commended the players’ improvement, saying, “We believe that going further, there will be more improvement.”
He noted that Nigeria is already winning medals in squash, citing the team’s gold medal win in the African team championship.
Atta emphasised the benefits of squash, saying, “Squash is the number one sport for health… even if you’re in your 70s, you can still play.” He encouraged more people to take up squash, particularly schools, churches, and organizations.
Titah Jama, the winner of the male category, expressed his excitement about his second win, saying, “I feel very exciting and very happy… I’m still preparing to defend the league title.” Jama plans to win the title five times.
Esther Apponsa Paul, winner of the female category, said she’s happy about her victory, noting that she’s improving with each game. Paul aims to become Nigeria’s number one female squash player.
The winners of the March fixtures were Esther Amponsah, who defeated Amira Okolo 3-0, and Titah Jama, who defeated Obadiah Ishaya 3-2.
Dignitaries in attendance included Alhaji Hadi Sani, Alhaji Abdulrasak Ndana, Mr. Jonah Attah, and others.
The Abuja Squash League aims to support and enhance the squash community in Abuja and beyond.
The Abuja Squash League’s third season promises to be an exciting one, with more players, better skills, and intense competition.
Abubakar noted that the league’s growth is a testament to the hard work of the organizers and participants.
Atta emphasised the importance of promoting squash in Nigeria, saying, “We need to promote squash in Nigeria… we need to encourage more people to take up the sport.”
He noted that squash is a sport that can be played by people of all ages.
The Abuja Squash League’s third season is a testament to the growing popularity of squash in Nigeria. With more players, better skills, and intense competition, the league promises to be an exciting one.