When it comes to competitive sports, we often envision the world of football, where stadiums roar with the passion of athletes sprinting across the field.
But in a world where athleticism takes centre stage, there exists a 13-year-old prodigy, Sophia Ekeruche, who dares to dream of a different kind of sports world: one where words reign supreme, as she defies expectations in the extremely competitive world of scrabble.
Hailing from Ikorodu, Lagos, the teenager has already set her sights on conquering the scrabble world with her exceptional skills and unwavering determination.
She tells PUNCH Sports Extra of how her journey into the realm of scrabble began at the age of 11, when she participated in a sports competition at her church.
“I was 11 years old then, and I picked interest in scrabble and fell in love with the sport,” she said.
Despite her young age, Ekeruche’s dedication to scrabble has been unwavering, fuelled by the support of her family, particularly her father, who shares her love for the game.
“I really love scrabble, I have never felt like quitting because it’s something I enjoy doing, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to compete and improve,” Ekeruche told PUNCH Sports Extra.
“My parents were in support right from the beginning, my dad is also a scrabble player, so he gave me the first set of words I learnt in scrabble when I began.”
Ekeruche attends Ikorodu High School, where she is currently in Junior Secondary School 2.
Balancing her academic responsibilities with her passion for scrabble hasn’t been easy, but she remains determined to excel in both areas of her life.
“Yeah, it’s kind of hard, especially during exams when I have to study. But I always make time to learn new scrabble words each day. It’s all about finding the right balance.”
Despite the challenges, Ekeruche’s hard work and dedication have paid off. Her proudest moment came when she clinched the gold medal at the 2023 National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State.
Overall, she has claimed four medals: three gold and one silver. She won two medals from Redeem Christian Church of God competitions, and two from the National Youth Games.
However, like any athlete, Ekeruche has also faced setbacks along the way and she told our correspondent her saddest moment was when she didn’t qualify for a major PANASA tournament.
“But I just had to encourage myself and try harder,” she said.
The teenager’s dream is to become the youngest master player. Currently, Alec Sjöholm is the youngest scrabble champion ever, winning the 2019 National Scrabble Championships at the age of 21.
“My goal is to be the youngest master player. I still have time on my side and I just have to keep getting better,” she told PUNCH Sports Extra.
Her coach, Olaitan Oluwarotimi, has been instrumental in her development as a scrabble player.
From the moment he met her, Oluwarotimi saw potential in the kid and has been impressed by her dedication and passion for the game.
“She was averagely sound when I first met her and had a ready to learn attitude. With this positive attitude, I decided to work fast on her and the result is yielding already.
“She’s got that adrenaline for good study, she’s diligent, passionate and result oriented.”
On her potential in scrabble, Oluwarotimi added, “She’s well grounded with word prowess. I’m optimistic of her outstanding performance in the next event, be it national, state or international. I trust her completely,” he told PUNCH Sports Extra.
As Ekeruche continues her journey in the world of scrabble, her dreams remain as lofty as ever. With her talent, determination and unwavering passion, there’s no doubt she’s destined for greatness in the world of scrabble.
