Top seed Allan Oyende and Patrick Gitonga Nderitu will lead Word Warriors, the national team for this year’s East, Central and South Africa (ECASA) Scrabble Championships in Lusaka, Zambia.
Following his first win in the series at Scrabble Kenya circuit in Kitui, Nderitu piped round one and Nairobi meeting champion Oyende as they will marshal forces with other 35 players for ECASA tournament.
With Scrabble Kenya Chairman Bernard Amuke praising the team, the duo, who were in the national team last year that won the ECASA title, they will be mandated to defend the title in Lusaka during Easter holidays.
“We have a strong team and we are sure that we will certainly defend our title in Lusaka in both the team and individual titles. We are hoping for government support for the same so that our players only need to worry about their performance.” Amuke.
Nderitu, who won Kisumu leg a month ago, won the Kitui circuit, winning 14 out of the 18 games +659 he played.
“I would love to see more young people playing this game and we should encourage more participants in division B and C. The Youth are our future.” said the champ.
Oyende who had superior scored at the ECASA last year was dethrone from day one summit to the second position after winning 12 out of 18 with +1062 before Amuke completing the podium with 12 wins +324.
The Word warriors, as the team is commonly known, will be lead by reigning champ Allan Oyende, Gitonga Nderitu, and Bernard Koyyoko.
The 5 team wildcards will be used on the youth and female players.