SCRABBLE: ECASA championship attracts 35 players

The second edition of the qualifiers of the East, Central and Southern Africa (ECASA) scrabble championship has attracted thirty five players, the organizers have said.

The two-day event to be held at Mbale Club is one of the build-up competitions ahead of November's World Scrabble Championship in Nairobi, Kenya.

Uganda last year failed to send a representative to Perth in Australia for the world championship because they could not raise air tickets and upkeep for the trip.

But Uganda's overall champion in the first edition held in Lira, Philip Mugisha, alongside Rose Kisembo, Edgar Odongkara and Dr. Mark Okwir all represented Uganda in the African Scrabble Championship in Accra, Ghana.

"We expect 15 top international players from Kenya to revive rivalry with 20 top Ugandan players in a game that will see Division B teams also competing their categories" said Okwir the President of the Scrabble Association of Uganda.

"Division B comprises of players mainly from the top universities in Uganda such as Makerere, Busitema, MUBS, Ndejje, UCU, Nkozi, and KIU among others" he added.

Okwir says it's the first time Mbale will host the event as they are looking forward to recruit more Scrabble players in the region.   

"Individual players and their teams have had enough time to prepare, and it's now time to showcase solidarity in the game" said Lawrence Onyoin the vice president administration  

Onyoin who also doubles as the team captain for Soroti Municipal Scrabble Club leads a team of seven players that will square off during the 18 rounds of action in the qualifiers.

The two day challenge is expected to be graced by top players such as Mugisha, Odongkara, David Onai, Chris Ntege, Kisembo, Onyoin, Davis Apuli, and Assumpta Nakyanzi.

Others are Joe Ojok, Sam Ojok, Mark Okwir, Pierre Opio, Chris Kalibbala, Linda Alyek, Nelson Kyagera, Jonathan Tawoda and Ssali Stephen.

Onyoin adds that clubs such as SPA, Venly, Kampala Scrabble Fans, Mukagwa, Soroti, Mbarara, Lira, Gulu, Entebbe, Kabale, Masaka, St Augustine and the hosts Mbale Club will all have representatives at the event.

Onyoin noted that the number of scrabble players has increased in the country with upcountry clubs threatening to dominate the national scene.