14th October, 2010
Nigerians, who have been camping ahead of the 10th Governor’s Cup Lagos tennis Championship, will hit Lagos today to finalise their preparation for the ITF approved tournament which serves off this weekend.
Vice President of Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF, Yemi Owoseni, disclosed that all the players who have been camping in the last few weeks at four different locations spread across the country are scheduled to arrive Lagos for the Governor’s Cup, sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria and FCMB Plc.
Owoseni said for the first time since the Governor’s Cup started in 2000, the federation camped the players for a closed preparation that will see them performing well in the two-week championship which ends on 31 October.
The likes of Abdulmumini Babalola, Christy Agugbom, Blessing Samuel and Blessing Anuna were camped in Ekiti State, by Owoseni who sponsored them.
Sunday Emmanuel, Fatima Abinu and Anu Aiyegbusi were in Port Harcourt on the bill of the 1st Vice president of the federation, who is the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Tonye Harry.
Shehu Lawal and some other players had their camp in Kaduna, while Candy Idoko who has been training in Holland on his own bill, is also expected to hit Lagos latest by tomorrow for the competition.
“I’m happy to tell Nigerians that the federation has plans for the local players this year. That’s why some board members of the NTF bankrolled the camping of some players.
“This we did to prepare them well so that they will not play second fiddle when the tournament gets underway from this weekend,†said the Ekiti State-born tennis administrator, who is optimistic that Nigerian players would perform better in the competition this time around.
“To whom much is given, much is expected. We have given the players a good platform to train and prepare for the Governor’s Cup. It is our expectations that they will reciprocate with a good performance this year.â€