5th November, 2014
Damilare Okunola/Kaduna
Action commenced yesterday at the NNPC Junior Circuit in Kaduna as youngsters tried to outplay each other in various age categories.
The players, consisting boys in the U-16, 14 and 10 age categories began their quest to hoist the trophy on Saturday as they played each other in round robin matches inside the tennis arena of the Murtala Square, Kaduna.
Home-grown talent, Christopher Itodo, who had won his first match against Emmanuel Lucky 9-2 yesterday, defeated Kazeem Fadipe 9-1 this morning to all but qualify for the knockout stage.
Itodo, who has won in the U-14 category in previous editions, will play Charles Igbinovia in the final round robin match as he hopes to win the NNPC U-16 in Kaduna for the first time.
Sulaimon Jamiu also defeated Michael Abutu 9-1, in one of the boys 16 matches decided yesterday.
Benjamin Ayuba lost 3-9 to Gabriel Friday in the boys 14 while Abdullahi Ajanaku was too strong for Miracle James as he powered to a 9-0 win in the boys 10 and unders.
Moses Sunday lost 6-9 to Jordan Watat, whose dad is from Cameroon while 9-year old Gabriel Richard dismissed Clement Dickson with a 9-4 win, both in the boys 10 and unders.
Richard, P.M. News Sport gathered, began playing tennis just a little over eight months ago and looked just as impressive with his strokes and volley.
Meanwhile, action for the girls will start later today as the spectators in Kaduna are anticipating a tough duel among the girls, especially in the 14 and unders where the likes of Angel McCleod and MaryLove Edwards hold sway.
Attention will also be shifted to the girls 12 and unders, where new entrant, Mary Udoffa and former finalist, Iye Onoja will seek to outshine each other.