Lagos: Participants at the ongoing Adewale Isa Foundation Tennis Tournament have commended organisers for their encouragement and support in their quest for talent discovery. The tournament, which enters its third day on Wednesday, is in collaboration with Milo Nigeria. The initiative, themed ‘Impacting Lives Through Tennis and Education’, features nearly 300 young players competing in the U-12, U-14, and U-16 categories. The tournament aims to encourage wider participation in tennis and foster a sense of community among players, parents, and supporters. The event is organised in memory of the late Adewale Isa, a tennis coach, by his family to sustain his legacy.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Oluchi Ozurumba, Coach of Imo State players, highlighted the importance of sponsorship and quality coaching for the development and projection of young tennis players. She emphasized that having a good sponsor could significantly improve a player’s performance. Ozurumba also noted the importance of regular tourna
ments in improving players, stating that losing was part of their development. She called for more support for young players, emphasizing that sponsorship was crucial. Ozurumba praised the tournament organisers for focusing on young players, stating that early development would help them become better.
Mofifunoluwa Atilola, a top seed in the U-16 category, expressed that the tournament had helped her understand her game and identify areas for improvement. Atilola, who won the tournament last year, appreciated the foundation’s financial and overall support. She is determined to win again by practicing breathing exercises and maintaining self-belief. Her goal is to become world number one, win many Grand Slams, and break records.
Ifeanyi Obiora, father of Chimdiuto Obiora, described tennis as a ‘great individual sport’ that had contributed to his daughter’s development. He noted that sports and education complement each other, adding that tennis had encouraged his daughter to read and learn about the sport. O
biora called for more editions of the tournament, preferably at the regional level, highlighting that tennis teaches children discipline and accountability while offering educational opportunities through scholarships.
Meanwhile, NAN reports that participants displayed remarkable passion and confidence in tightly contested matches. In the boys’ U-12 category, Smart Miqdad defeated Chukwemeka Egereonu with scores of 4-1, 4-1, while Godwin Afaramai overcame Waliu Jimoh with scores of 4-2, 5-3. In the boys’ U-14 category, Friday Testimony defeated Ibrahim Mustapha with a score of 4-1, 4-1, and Goodluck Akinfunmilayo defeated Korede Taiwo with a score of 4-1, 4-0. In the girls’ U-14 category, Kimberly Ogundeyi defeated Nora Awode with a score of 4-1, 4-0, and Chisimdi Afam-Bonu defeated Faridat Abudalraheem with a score of 4-0, 4-0. Additionally, Adesinmi Olaniyan defeated Favour Kenneth with scores of 4-0, 4-0. In the boys’ U-16 category, Frank Enoch defeated Joseph David with scores of 4-1, 4-0, and Heman Afar
amai defeated Basit Adepoju with scores of 5-4, 5-3.
The six-day tournament, which started on August 31 and will run until September 5 at the Lagos Main Tennis Club, National Stadium, Lagos, has recorded a higher turnout than the previous edition, featuring an improved prize structure and increased participation.