Squash Premier League Targets Street Children, Attracts Over 100 Athletes

AFOLABI SAHEED OLAWALE

The founder of the Squash Premier League and Beacon of Positivity Foundation (BOPF), Coach T. Connor Tuodolo, says the competition was established to take children off the streets, empower them with life skills and create opportunities that will shape them into responsible citizens.

Tuodolo stated this on Monday at the opening of the second edition of the 2026 Squash Premier League at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Package B, Abuja, where more than 100 young athletes from different squash academies across the country gathered for coaching and officiating clinics ahead of the championship.

The month-long competition, organised by BOPF, features senior, club members, Under-15, Under-19 and doubles categories, with matches scheduled to run from August 5 to 30.

Speaking on the vision behind the initiative, Tuodolo said the league goes beyond producing elite athletes, stressing that it was created to give young Nigerians a positive alternative through sports.

“We want organisations that believe in youth development to join us in taking children off the streets, empowering them through sports and creating opportunities for them to become productive citizens,” he said.

According to him, the idea was inspired by his experience as a squash player and his conviction that Nigeria needed a sustainable grassroots platform where young talents could develop, compete regularly and build confidence.

Tuodolo noted that the competition has recorded remarkable growth since its inception, with participation rising from just 26 athletes in the maiden edition to more than 105 participants this year.

“When we started, we had just 26 athletes. The numbers increased to 45, then 50, then 69, and today we have over 105 participants. That shows there is hope for squash in Nigeria,” he added.

Beyond competition, the founder explained that the league incorporates coaching and officiating clinics aimed at improving players’ understanding of the technical and tactical aspects of the game.

Despite the progress, Tuodolo identified inadequate funding as the major challenge confronting the initiative, revealing that the programme has largely been sustained through personal sacrifice, volunteer efforts and support from a few individuals who share the vision of youth development through sports.

For many of the participants, the tournament represents much more than a sporting event.

Fifteen-year-old Edna Philip, who travelled from Plateau State, described the competition as a stepping stone towards achieving her dream of becoming one of the world’s best squash players.

“I have been playing squash for three years and I hope to become one of the best squash players in the world,” she said.

Former Nigerian squash international and founder of Dasby’s Sports Development Association, Coach Longi Dasbak, described the league as a major boost for grassroots squash development in the country.

She said the increasing number of participants reflects growing awareness and renewed interest in the sport among young Nigerians.

Dasbak, who mentors more than 35 boys and girls in Plateau State, called for greater government and private sector investment in squash, lamenting that the sport continues to receive limited attention in Nigeria despite its inclusion in the Olympic Games.

“If we truly want the game to grow, the government must create more awareness, build additional squash courts and invest in the sport,” she said.

Runner-up in the previous edition, 16-year-old Nanme Rindaps, said he returned to Abuja determined to improve his game and claim the title, while another participant, Praise Chukwuemeka, expressed confidence that competing against stronger opponents would help elevate her performance.

As the 2026 Squash Premier League gets underway, organisers believe the competition is gradually evolving into a platform that not only produces champions but also inspires discipline, confidence and brighter futures for young Nigerians.