Posted by By Patrick Omorodion on
Nigeria's scrabble team to the World Scrabble Championship in London, England got a reprieve at last after the British High Commission gave them another chance for visa interview but sadly the country's current number one player, Onota Oteheri still had his request turned down.
Nigeria's scrabble team to the World Scrabble Championship in London, England got a reprieve at last after the British High Commission gave them another chance for visa interview but sadly the country's current number one player, Onota Oteheri still had his request turned down.
President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSF), Chief Toke Aka who disclosed this happy and sad development said they were happy that the first reserve player, Anthony Ikolo was issued with a visa on Monday after a brief drilling by the High Commission.
Chief Aka said that Oteheri got the age limit barrier waived for him but he was refused on the ground that he said he had never applied for visa before when actually he had earlier been turned down at a previous attempt about three years ago.
The scrabble boss said other players and officials who were not physically present for interview were given new dares to appear with the Technical Director of the NSF, Larry Ojoko and two players Sunday Oshodi and Azubuike Ogbogu finally issued with visas Friday. Two accompanying journalists will be interviewed on today while two officials from the team's sponsoring company will have theirs on tomorrow, Chief Aka said.
An elated Aka said the latest development was heartening despite Oteheri's predicament, stressing that the federation's request was a geniune one and 'substantiated by the rigorous perusal it underwent in the sports ministry before we were approved for a NOTE VERBAL from the Foreign Affairs ministry".
He expressed optimism in the ability of the team to do well at the World Championship and called on Nigerians 'to be united in wishing our team to the championship a very successful outing and by the special Grace of God, we shall return with the coveted World Championship trophy".
The first batch of the contingent, Chief Aka said, were expected to have left for London yesterday while the rest of the team will join later in the after the rescheduled visit to the British High Commission..