Sports
THE organisers of the Adewale Isa Foundation (AIF) Junior Tennis championship on Saturday said that the competition had produced a good number of tennis stars over the years.
The organisers said this in a Press briefing at the Centre Court of the Tennis Section, National Stadium, Surulere, to announce plans for the fifth edition of the championship.
The member of the AIF Board, Olayinka Adigun, also told journalists at the occasion that the organisers were satisfied with the number of stars that emerged from the previous editions of the championship.
According to her, the fifth AIF Junior Tennis championship will serve off on Aug. 13 with players from 18 states across Nigeria in attendance.
Adigun said that the championship was organised and sustained to immortalise the late Nigeria’s tennis legend, Adewale Isa.
“The AIF championship started as our way of immortalising our father, Alhaji Adewale Isa, whose tracks in tennis are there for all to see.
“He was the guiding coach for many tennis players and coaches who have gone ahead to become great tennis coaches and players.
“Among these greats are some of the people sitting here, who have gone ahead to excel in different capacities through tennis.
“We are happy to continue sponsoring and organising this competition because we see the fruits of our labour germinating real quick and right before our eyes,” she said.
Adigun also said that a number of champions produced by the tournament had been successful at the national and international stages.
“We are grateful to have given them the platform to hone their skills and become top class in every sense of it.
“The likes of Chukwudubem Amasiani, who is now the number one U-14 Junior in West Africa and number eigth in Africa; and Khadijat Mohammed, who went won a national tournament.
“We also have the likes of Mubarak Ganiyu, former top African junior who won this tournament in the past, and have shown brilliance in their tennis development,” she said.
Adigun added, “It is on this note that we are excited to inform you that the 5th edition of the AIF Junior Tennis Championship will be serving off on August 13 through August 17.
“All matches will be played inside the tennis section of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos from 9.00 a.m daily.
“Players will be participating in U-12, U-14 and U-16 categories for this year’s edition of the tournament.
“We are also happy to continue our commitment to grassroots development of tennis by offering the winner of the U-12 category (male and female) a free U.S.training tour.
“Last time out, we were able to facilitate the trip for Joel Michael, who won the U-12 category and he spent three months at a training facility.”
She also said that Micheal trained with top-class coaches and facilities, adding that they would continue with to develop tennis talents through the championship.
Another member of the foundation’s board, Nurudeen Isa, commended the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) over their consistent support of the cadet tournament.
“We commend the support we have been getting from the NTF as they have been relentless in giving the tournament logistics backups.
“We do get the players for the tournament through the support from ITF and they also helped to facilitate the sponsor of Micheal to the U.S.
“We have greater plans for the players as we will continue to monitor their progress and see that we make the best out of them.
“Tennis demands huge investments, but we will do everything in our part to ensure that the products of this tournament reach the height of their career,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ‘Most Valuable Player’ in the male and female category of the competition will also receive cash incentives. (NAN)
A.I
Aug. 11, 2024
Tags: Chukwudubem Amasiani Mubarak Ganiyu Olayinka Adigun
