27th April, 2015
Damilare Okunola
One of Nigeria’s finest tennis players, Abdul-Mumuni Babalola has encouraged youngsters to step up their games and start defeating the older generation of players.
Speaking after an exhibition match at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos prior to the closing ceremony of the CBN Junior Tennis Championship, the former National Champion, stated that the younger ones are expected to start defeating their seniors now.
“Do you know since I have started beating my seniors in this game? I need the younger players to start thinking that way now.
“I have been in this game for so long and I really think that I have paid my dues. Age will always tell on you in sports, and that is why the performance cannot be as it used to be. Therefore, our younger ones should take a leaf from what we have been able to do over time and try to get even better.
“Tennis should be won by these young ones. For instance, not many of these players can defeat me, which is really bad if we want our tennis to grow in the country,” the Davis Cup player lamented in a chat with P.M.NEWS Tennis Special.
Asked why he is not participating at the Abuja Open, the left-handed tennis star explained that he was just recovering from an illness, noting that he is trying to rest to be ready for the CBN Senior Tennis Open which kicks off in Lagos mid May.
He said: “I am just recovering from an ailment and would not have been able to play the Abuja Open with my level of recovery.
“The exhibition did not require much energy, that was why I agreed to play. It also helped me have match fitness ahead of the CBN Open, which is still several weeks away.”