N13.8m up for grabs at 14th Gov's Tennis Cup

THE 14th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship serves off on Monday, November 17 at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan with N13.8 million (about $84,000) at stake as total prize money.

Vice chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Engineer Afolabi Salami, at a media briefing in Lagos, disclosed this adding that logistics have been put in place to ensure a hitch-free tournament.

Salami, who represented the LOC chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure, said the total prize money for the competition remains awesome despite the reduction in the number of days of the event this time.

"Whereas our regular two-week Futures tournament has a total prize money of $80,000, added hospitality which includes accommodation and breakfast at the Eko Hotel and Suites for our foreign invited players and a N10,000 daily subsidy in lieu of accommodation for Nigerian players for the period they remain in the championship," he said.

He stated that 32 top class Futures players- for the men and women's singles and 32 each (16 pairs) for the men and women's doubles have been invited by the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) to feature in the invitational tournament.

Salami added that a clinic will be organised for the kids to be drawn mostly from various schools in the state between the ages four and 16 years on the last day of the week-long tourney.

The final of the highest money spinning circuit on the continent is fixed for Saturday, November 22.

It will be recalled that Croatian Borna Coric and compatriot Ante Pavic won the 2013 edition of the Futures I and II men’s singles titles respectively, while Tadeja Majeric of Slovenia and Italian Gioia Barbieri claimed the Futures I and II women's singles titles respectively.

Nigeria will be led to the 14th Governor's Cup by the reigning Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) men's and women's singles champions, Abdulmumuni Babalola.

The full list of players invited for the tournament on the home fronts: Adegoke Sarah, Samuel Blessing, Agugbom Christy, Akingbade Ronke, Pam Elizabeth, Kienka Loila, Aiyegbusi Aanu, Donatus Loveth, Airhunwunde Osariemen, Olowu Bukola, Ebijimi Pauline, Ibrahim Omotayo Osewa,Quadri Aminat, Anuna Blessing Dirisu Ngozi and Esorae Nosakhaire.

Nigerian male players

1.      Enosoregbe Clifford
2.      Babalola Abdulmumin
3.      Atseye Henry
4.      Shehu Lawal
5.      Otu John
6.      Otu Thomas
7.      Madueke Nonso
8.      Omoile Samuel
9.   Micheal Moses
10.  Imeh Joseph
11.  Balami Umaru
12.  Paul Christian
13.  Emmanuel Sylvester
14.  Adamu Sani
15.  Alade Kehinde
16.  Idoko Emmanuel

           Foreign players (female)

1.         Scheepers Channelle (RSA)
2.         Jabeur Ons (Tunisia)
3.         Simmond Chanel (RSA)
4.         Le-Roux Madrie (RSA)
5.         Fouroclas Natasha (RSA)
6.         Razafinmhtratra  Zarah (Madagascar)
7.         Abou Zekry Ola (Egypt)
8.         Sherif Mayar (Egypt)
9.         Hattingh Ilze (RSA)
10.       Sammons Michelle (RSA)
11.       Grandin Natalie (RSA)
12.       Ibbou Ines (Algeria)
13.       Atit Rita (Morocco)
14.       Hanza Yasmine (Egypt)
15.       Qostal Lina (Morocco)
16.       Andria Marosoa Sandra (Madagascar)

Foreign players (male)
1.         Safwat Mohammed (Egypt)
2.         Sabry Sherif (Egypt)
3.         Garanganga Takanyi (Zimbabwe)
4.         Mark Fynn (Zimbabwe)
5.         Hossam Karim (Egypt)
6.         Kiegou Alexis (Benin)
7.         Roelofse Ruan (RSA)
8.         Gooch Damon (RSA)
9.         Janse Van Rensbury Benjamin (RSA)
10.       El-Amram Reda (Morocco)
11.       Saidu Diallo (Mali)
12.       Tunde Segodo (Benin)
13.       Theophile Segodo (Benin)
14.       Hassan NdaYishmiye (Brundi)
15.       Mamoun Kaim Mohammed (Egypt)
16.       Ira Dunkwda GlynOrly (Burundi)

Caption: Henry Atseye, one of Nigeria's players to be on parade.