2 weeks Ago By James Agberebi
Nigeria’s days of returning from such big competitions as the Olympic Games and World Championships without a single medal are over, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has said. Towards this end, Dikko has pledged to work with the private sector, states, and organisations such as the International Tennis Academy (ITA) involved in the structured age group development of talents to ensure Nigeria becomes a global sports power. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Sapetro Futures Tennis Tournament, which was held at the Ikoyi Club, at the weekend, Dikko said: “My attending this event underlines the emphasis we are going to place on grassroots sports development going forward.
“We will work with the states to make sure that we can identify the best talent in all the major sports in age groups, starting from age 10 and I am sure that working with all stakeholders, Nigeria will never again return from an Olympic Games empty-handed.” The Sapetro Futures Championship featured singles competitions in three age groups – Boys and Girls 12s, 14s, and 16s – with the finalists surprising guests with a high level of skills and tactics. Bayelsa State took both the Boys and Girls U-12 titles with Excellency Oginiba beating Ghazal Ashim from Oyo State, and Karina Opuene outlasting Barakat Ganiyu, also from Oyo State in three 10-point tiebreak sets.
Nigeria’s precocious tennis talent from Lagos, Mofi Atilola, once again emerged as the star of the junior tournament. The 12 and under champion was pushed to the 14s and 16s and reached the finals in both events. She beat Success Godwin of Ekiti in straight sets in the 14s but lost by the same margin to Goodnews Aina, from Ekiti State, who was winning back-to-back titles in the Girls 16s.
The Boys 16s title was won by Gbolahan Olawale, from Ondo State, who defeated Onyekachi Ogunjiofor, from Oyo State in the finals. Lagos-based Isa Yahaya won the Boys 14s event with a surprisingly easy two straight sets victory against Goodluck Tersoo, from Abuja, who had claimed the 14s title in their last meeting. The most improved players’ trophies, which were described by Godwin Kienka, the director of the ITA, organisers of the event, as the most important and most prestigious, were won by Tolu Agunbiade, from Cross River State, and Ogunjiofor, the Boys 16s runner-up playing in his first ITA Junior Circuit finals.
At the end of the competition, the NSC chairman, who stressed that his presence at the Sapetro Futures final should underline the importance he would place on grassroots development of all the major sports, presented a “thank you plaque” to the MD of Sapretro, Emeke Anagbogu, who described the level of organiation, and standard of the competition as a sure sign that Nigeria has a lot of sports talent, who will do well at the world stage in the future..
