The Kano squash community is taking steps to revive a sport many players fear is slowly fading from public consciousness.
At the Kano Squash Championship, three major clubs, BUK Squash Club, Kano Squash Club (formerly Officers’ Mess), and Ado Bayero Squash Club came together under one roof for the first time, signalling a new era of unity and ambition for the game.
According to Abdulhamid Yahya, Chairman of the Audit Committee of BUK Squash Club, the tournament represents the spirit of One Kano. Over the years, he explained, the clubs only engaged in small, bilateral competitions. But this year marked a turning point.
“We decided in the spirit of One Kano to organize a tournament that cuts across all the major squash clubs in Kano. This is the root of this competition, and we hope to build on this momentum in 2025 and beyond,” he said.
Despite the excitement around the championship, Yahya was frank about the sport’s challenges. He noted, that Squash lacks the visibility of football or basketball games almost every Nigerian child grows up watching.
The decline, he said, mirrors challenges in Nigeria, where Lagos and Abuja remain far ahead of Kano in squash development. To reverse the trend, Yahya believes sacrifice and commitment are needed.
His added: “We need to bring more people into the game. Squash develops both brain and body. It sharpens decision-making every second and keeps the mind and muscles fully engaged.”
Dr. Ado Haruna, Head of Mechatronics Engineering at BUK and an active player, stated that squash carries a deeper societal value, which is peacebuilding.
He noted that sports naturally bring people together, teaching discipline, respect, and brotherhood, values increasingly needed in communities experiencing social tension.
“In sports, we teach following rules, caring for one another, and being good team members. If we can instill this in young people, we can truly promote unity,” he said.
But funding remains a major obstacle. This year’s tournament relied heavily on the personal generosity of club members. While the state government has pledged greater support, Haruna insists the private sector must also step in, as done in advanced nations where sports development is not left solely to government.
“Industries in Kano must take a more active role. Government alone cannot sustain competitive sports,” he said.
Nura Garba, Deputy Registrar and Head of Digital Media at BUK, is equally concerned about the decline of squash. Many young people today, he observed, have never even heard of the sport. The solution, he believes, lies in grassroots development.
“If we can promote squash from primary to secondary and university levels, the graduates of these systems will carry the love of the sport into society,” he said.
