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Roberts triumphs at O’Trafford Invitational Tourney

By editor
27 April 2015   |   9:20 am
Akinsope Roberts at the weekend beat all the top stars to win the four-club invitational squash tournament held at the O’Trafford Squash Club, Ikoyi.
Winners

Chairman of O’Trafford Squash Club, Larry Ettah (right) celebrates with winner of the Ian Randolph Invitational Tournament, Akinsope Roberts… at the weekend.

Akinsope Roberts at the weekend beat all the top stars to win the four-club invitational squash tournament held at the O’Trafford Squash Club, Ikoyi.

Four clubs, including Polo Club, Lagos Country Club, Ikoyi Club 1938 and the host, O’Trafford Squash Club, participated in the tournament.

The competition, which featured gripping encounters characterized by incredible display of squash skills, saw Roberts defeating Clement Efakporire of Ikoyi Club 2-1 in a highly physical final that thrilled the crowded gallery of the club.

Roberts, who is O’Trafford’s number one player, had thrashed Olumide Sojinrin, also of Ikoyi Club, 2-0 to qualify for the final, while Efakporire got to the final courtesy of his 2-0 victory over Larry Ettah, the second best player of O’Trafford, who is also the chairman of the club.

The start-up match of the evening was the game between Taye Ige and Akin Aluko, both of O’Trafford Club. Ige, who is number seven on the silver ladder, had challenged Aluko, who is number four on the same ladder. It was Ige’s day as he outclassed Aluko with his superior striking prowess, winning the game 2-0.

Ettah, at the closing ceremony, expressed satisfaction at the quality of the games played and commended all the participants for their spirit of sportsmanship. He explained that the one-day invitational tournament was organized to honour a member of O’Trafford, Ian Randolph, who has great passion for the game of squash.

Randolph turned 60 a couple of days ago. “Randolph’s passion for squash is legendary and so the best way to appreciate him for this is to honour him with the tournament as he marked a major milestone.

We are very proud of him. He is an inspiration to a lot of us here,” Ettah said. Randolph, in his comment, expressed delight at the enthusiasm of the participants and also commended the organizing committee for the success of the tournament.

He encouraged the younger generation of Nigerians to embrace the game which has continued to win more followership in the last few years. Among the dignitaries that graced the competition was Edem Selong, the immediate past Second Vice President of the Nigerian Squash Federation, who is currently a board member of the Federation.

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