Lagos To Host First Major Squash Championship In Nigeria

The Professional Squash Association has concluded an agreement with Maku Sports of Lagos to stage the first major PSA Tour event in Nigeria.

The 2009 African Open, boasting a $115,000 prize-fund, will be staged in Lagos from 12-15 August, following two days of qualifying.

Maku Sports, the only owner of an all-glass court in Africa, have formed a strategic partnership with Templewood Associates Limited in readiness to host the 3rd African Open in the country's former capital.

"We are very pleased to announce this strategic partnership that we intend to use as a vehicle to promote the game of Squash in Nigeria and indeed the rest of Africa," said Segun Maku, Managing Director of Maku Sports. "We want to elevate the status of Squash in the sub region and we will use the platform of an expanded African Squash Open Championship with a vastly increased prize money."

Templewood Associates' Chief Executive Chiekezi Dozie added: "We realised the strides Maku Sports had made in the promotion of the sport in Nigeria and we realised we could help in taking squash to the next level. We want an event in sub Saharan Africa that is comparable to the best other regions have to offer - which will see the world's best players participating. This would be a wonderful development."

Alex Gough, Chief Operating Officer of the PSA, responded: "This will be a landmark event for the PSA World Tour as it is the largest prize fund for a 5-star event that PSA has ever had. It will therefore undoubtedly attract all of the top players in the game. PSA will be working hard with Segun and Chiekezi in the coming months to help them present a fantastic event. It will be a huge boost for the level of squash in Nigeria being able to see the world's best compete in Lagos."