By Desmond Tunde Coker
Sierra Leone’s top scrabble players are on intensive training ahead of the World English Language Scrabble Association (WESPA) Championship scheduled to be hosted in Las Vegas, America from the 22nd to the 26th July 2023.
Amongst one hundred and fifty to two hundred competitors are to compete in this year`s world championship. Five players are expected to represent Sierra Leone including top foreign based scrabbler Mohamed Alieu Kamara, Emmanuel King Esq, Ibrahim Deen Swaray, Yusuf Koroma and Abdul Bobor Kamara.
According to the Vice President of the National Scrabble Association of Sierra Leone (NSASL), Abdul Kamara, who will double as the leader of delegation, Sierra Leone will represent the Green, White and Blue well as they did in the Africa Championship in Zambia and also in the just concluded West Africa Championship.
Abdul noted: “Honestly the Nigerians have been the top-flight team in the world and in the African continent, but I can assure you that team Sierra Leone will spring surprises as we did in the World Championship in Goa, India 2019,” he said.
He continued: “We are hopeful this will be our biggest representation in an international tournament as we did in Goa when we finished above big nations in Europe. Before now Mohamed Alieu Kamara, Emmanuel King Esq, Patrick Drape Hamilton, and Abdul Borbor Kamara have been representing us in various tournaments in Africa and the world, but we intend to show case a new player by the name of Ibrahim Deen Swaray.”
When asked whether their partners will partner with the Association ahead of the championship; he said: “We are looking forward to that because Mercury International and Rokel Commercial Bank are both being supportive of us each time we knock on their doors, so we hope this good relationship continue.” He however called on government (NSA & MOS), Sierra Leone Ports Authority management, Africell and Orange to come on board to support the Association.