NIGERIA TENNIS UNDER 12 TEAM WINS WEST/CENTRAL AFRICAN JUNIOR QUALIFIERS TITLES

By Shawn

Team Nigeria has won the International Tennis Federation/Central African Tennis (ITF/CAT) West/Central African Junior qualifiers 12 and Under Boys and Girls titles at Accra, Ghana which was held between 15th and 19th August 2023.

The tournament saw Nigeria compete against four(4) other countries in a “Round Robin” which had a group of five(5) to emerge champions and are set to represent West/Central Africa at the African Junior Championship slated for October, 2023.

This was made known by the General Manager, Ekiti State Sports Commission, Mr Kunle Adeyemi in Ado Ekiti, who stated that three of the players that represented the National Team at the tournament are from Ekiti State.

Mr Adeyemi while lauding the Coach that accompanied the players at the tournament who is also the Ekiti State Tennis Coach, Mr Wunmi Ogunsakin for doing the State proud, congratulated the players from Ekiti State, Gloria Samuel, Seyi Ogunsakin and Goodnews Aina for their performance at the event.

The General Manager advised the players on consistency, stressing that it was imperative that they sustain the level of form and even aim to become better at the main AJC tournament & all other future events.

Giving a breakdown of the tournament, Coach Wunmi Ogunsakin mentioned that Team Nigeria competed against Benin, Burkina Faso, Togo and the hosts, Ghana.

Coach Ogunsakin revealed that team Nigeria defeated all the other national teams in both the Boys and Girls categories with the boys not dropping a single set throughout the tournament.

The Sweat Merchant appreciated the Governor Oyebanji led administration for the efforts put in place for the development of sports in the State.

He also commended the leadership of the State Sports Commission,he aded by the General Manager, Mr Kunle Adeyemi for its continued support and backing in moving the sport of Tennis to greater heights.

Coach Ogunsakin however stressed the need for more funding, stating that due to financial constraints, the players had to be sponsored by their parents and coach to enable them represent the Nation at the tournament.

He appealed to the State and Federal Government to come to their aid to enable the team compete at the African Junior Championship event which comes up in October, 2023 at a yet to be decided location.

The Coach also used the opportunity to appeal to all well-to-do individuals and corporate organizations to support efforts of government at developing sports in the State.