A young squash player from Jos, Plateau State, Nanme Rindaps has narrated how he surmounted all odds to win the 6th Mama Tunde Alaso Racket Festival held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The young squash player in an interview on Sunday in Abuja, expressed joy that he was able to overcome his inexperience, funding difficulties and inadequate training facilities to win his championship gold medal.
The Jos-born player said his latest victory came despite significant challenges surrounding his preparation for the Ibadan tournament, including limited access to sporting equipment and the financial burden of travelling to the competition venue.
Rindaps, who features Abuja -Based Premier Squash Academy, confessed that the Ibadan tournament was particularly demanding because some of his opponents had greater competitive experience and better access to training facilities more than him.
He identified inadequate sponsorship as one of the biggest challenges affecting his development, explaining that players often struggle to raise money for transportation, feeding and accommodation when travelling for tournaments.
The squash player also pointed to shortages of essential training equipment, particularly rackets, balls and other materials required for regular practice, saying better access to such items would improve the quality of preparation among emerging players.
According to him, increased sponsorship would enable young athletes to train more consistently, participate in more competitions and gain the experience required to compete at a higher level.
The Jos-born player also spoke about the difficulties of competing in southern parts of the country, where he said local athletes can sometimes benefit from stronger support.
Despite the challenges, Rindaps said he has learned to remain mentally strong and focus on his performance rather than allow external circumstances affect his game.
“I have to play and play to be strong, no matter what the consequences are going to be,” he said.
Rindaps credited the Squash Premier League with improving his endurance and mental strength, saying his participation in the competition has exposed him to the pressure associated with high-level squash.
He also acknowledged his coach, T’Connor Tuodolo, for helping him develop the mental aspect of the sport and preparing him to handle difficult moments during major competitions.
His coach, Tuodolo, who is the founder of the Premier Squash Academy, said he nurtured Rindaps from his early years in the game, describing the player’s latest success as the product of a gradual development process.
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The coach noted that Rindaps had previously reached advanced stages of tournaments, including the semi final stage, without winning the ultimate prize.
He described the 20-year-old as a disciplined athlete who listens to instructions, remains focused and executes tactical directions on court.
According to Tuodolo, Rindaps’ development is linked to the Premier Squash Academy’s grassroots programme, which started in Niger State with 53 young squash players.
He said about 23 players from the original group have continued their development, with several now competing at the national level.
