EFA
International Report 2001-2002
- Abuja (Federal Capital Territory) - 4 courts
- Kebbi State
a) Birnin Kebbi - 7 courts at two locations - First to be built in Nigeria in 1922
b) Argungu - 2 courts
c) Yauri - 2 courts
d) Secondary Schools at Birnin Kebbi, Argungu, Yauri, Zuru and Koko - twin courts at each under construction 2001/2002
- Kaduna State
a) Sardauna Fives Club, Kaduna - 4 courts
b) Government College, Kaduna - 2 courts
c) Jinya Fives Club, Kaduna - 2 courts
d) Zaria Fives Club - 3 courts
- Sokoto State
a) Kangiwa Fives Club, Sokoto - 4 courts
b) Gamji Fives Club, Sokoto - 3 courts
c) Civil Service Club, Sokoto - 4 courts
- Kano State
Kano Fives Club, Kano - 4 courts
- Katsina State
a) Katsina Nursing Home - 2 courts
b) Katsina GRA - 2 courts
c) Katsina City - 4 courts
d) C.O.E. Dutsin Ma - 2 courts
- Zamfara State
a) Gusau Fives Club - 4 courts (Four new ones under construction 2001/2002)
b) Kauran Namoda - 2 courts (not active)
- Niger State
a) Suleija Fives Club - 2 courts
b) Kontagora - 2 courts (not active)
- Lagos State
National Stadium, Surulere - 2 courts (not active)Interest has been shown by the Nigerians for a tour to England in the not too distant future possibly to play in the Kinnaird or London Tournament.
H.M.E.W./M.R.F.
Switzerland:
Geneva : The two Holmes Place Fives courts were again the venue this year for a championship that brought together players from Geneva, Zurich and the Lyceum in Zuoz. The courts are soon to be serviced by a coach, provided by REFCA, who will be residential during the summer, and who will introduce the game to the present sports centre members, as well as coaching the game to youngsters who are taking part in summer camp holiday courses at the centre. It will be good to see these two beautiful open-air courts brought into wider use.
Zurich : the Old boys continue to thrive, now enjoying the contribution from some newer members. The second court has made expansion of the club much easier.
Zuoz/The Lyceum: This has been a rebuilding year at the Lyceum - many experienced players have left over the past two years, and numbers were suddenly low again. REFCA has continued to run the coaching programme. The coaching work of William Powell last year, and Sebastian Cooley this season has paid off wonderfully well. In both years, the School have defeated The Old Boys in the Summer Games Match, and numbers are very high again, with a particularly strong junior team of girls and boys developing at the Lyceum. The Lyceum is now benefitting from regular touring visits from British schools, organised by REFCA. As a result, the match experience and daily practice routine alongside the visiting English schools is pushing standard up even higher. There are four one-week tours planned for next summer's eight week term!
Malaysia
Malay College:
Recent e-mails received from Rizal Rizraz, an old boy of Malay College Kuala Kangsar Perak, indicated his surprise
at seeing an article and photographs of his school courts on the website.
"As an old boy of that school and also a committee member of the Old Boys Association, we are interested in trying to revive the game while we still have old boys that played the game still alive. Our President, Tengku Adnan Tengku Besar Burhanuddin, who used to play during the 30's and 40's has been trying to get equipment for the game. He has been quite protective of the two courts and doesn't allow anyone to tear them down for other developments."
A further e-mail from Azhar Ariff, manager of the Old Boys Association states "I am unsure when the last game was played, but it was probably long ago, perhaps during the 50's and 60's. It would be great to see this game revived at Malay College."
Further contact has established that the College celebrates its centenary in 2005 and with the help of Howard Wiseman the proposal is to revive the game in time for the centenary celebrations. No contact has been made as yet with the College but the students have indicated to the Old Boys that they would like to play. A copy of the last Annual Report and Coaching Manual have been sent to their President and advice given on the purchase of equipment.
A further development is that their 'brother' school in Bangkok, Vadjiravudh College, also play Fives, but it still has to be established whether of the Eton or Rugby code.
Nigeria
As reported in the January Newsletter e-mail contact has been established with several of the Nigerian Officials and players, namely Opeyemi Aminu (Secretary General, Fives Association of Nigeria), former Secretary General Iyal Uegbeghe, Bawa Tuga (Secretary General Abuja Fives Association), A C Ladan (Birnin Kebbi Fives Association), Nasiru Isa (Fives Association of Nigeria) and Sarkin-Yaki Bello (Birnin Kebbi Fives Association). All have provided background information on the current state of the game in Nigeria.
The game of Fives was accorded official recognition by the government of Nigeria in 1999 when Clement Iyaluegbeghe was appointed Secretary General to oversee the activities of the game. Consequent upon his appointment Adamu Yakubu ceased to be Secretary General but remains an active member of the Association. (Adamu was in the team that visited the UK in 1989 and acted as the guide during the tour of Nigeria by Tony Hughes and Richard tyler in 1988/89.
Eton Fives is played in nine mainly Northern States - Abuja, Kebbi, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger and Lagos. There are about thirty Eton Fives Clubs competing against each other in competitions. The premier competition is the annual Sardauna Challenge Cup Tournament, rotated among the States. The main Trophy was donated by the late Premier of Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sardauna of Sokoto in 1959. A new event is to be competed at the National Sports Festival to be held every two years.
There are courts at:
International Report 2001-2002 by Howard Wiseman and Mike Fenn
Finalised 20th September 2002
efa@etonfives.co.uk