Nasir Mohammed, Vice-President, Fives Federation of Nigeria, says the body will begin its activities for the year with President Muhammadu Buhari Fives National Tournament.
Mohammed made the disclosure when he spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Lagos on the federation’s calendar of activities for the year.
He said the competition would hold on February 5 in Katsina, the presidents home state.
He said: “We have a lot of competitions this year and the first is sponsored by Katsina State Government in early February.
“Kaduna State Fives Association will host the maiden Super Inter-state Fives competition, tagged “2019 Dan-Iyan Zazzau Super Cup’’ at Murtala Square Fives Court, Kaduna from March 25 to March 30.
“We will also have the Sardauna Cup in Kebbi later this year.’’
Fives is an English sport believed to derive from the same origins as many racket sports.
In fives, a ball is propelled against the walls of a 3- or 4-sided special court using gloved or bare hand.
NAN reports that Fives is derived from the expression “a bunch of fives’’ (meaning a fist). It’s also known as hand Tennis.
Fives which is known in the country as “Sardauna Game’’ has occupied a prominent place in sports circles of Nigeria, particularly in the northern states.
It was introduced to Nigeria by an Old Etonian teacher, J.S. Hogden, who was working in the northern town of Katsina and Birnin Kebbi in 1928.
![Fives Federation to begin 2019 with President Muhammadu Buhari tourney To match Interview NIGERIA-BUHARI/](https://theeagleonline.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/PRESIDENT-BUHARI-1-e1522317188447.jpg)
Muhammadu Buhari, former Nigerian military ruler and presidential candidate for the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) speaks during an interview with Reuters at a private residence in Lagos February 19, 2011. Buhari, the main opposition candidate in Nigeria's presidential election, said he was optimistic it would be a more credible race than in the past but warned events in north Africa showed people would no longer accept a rigged vote. Picture taken February 19, 2011. To match Interview NIGERIA-BUHARI/ REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye (NIGERIA - Tags: POLITICS HEADSHOT)