Nigeria’s capital, Abuja is set for a 'tennis festival' as three ITF Futures Championships - Tombim Abuja Open, Dayak Tennis Championship, and GSL Open, hold at the National Stadium, Abuja, from May 1 to 21.
According to the organisers, the introduction of GSL Open, increases the number of ITF Futures in
Nigeria to four; three of which is in Abuja, while the Lagos Governor’s Cup completes the
country’s presence on the ITF Calendar.
It’s the third successive year that the number of ITF Futures tournament in Nigeria is increasing as the Tombim Abuja Open is in its third straight year, while the Dayak Championship would be marking its second edition.
“We are pleased to say that this objective has been partially fulfilled as Gladiator Systems
Limited (GSL), impressed by the success of the Tombim and Dayak championships last year, has decided to join the list of sponsors by sponsoring the GSL Open,” Tournament Director,
Ikani Agabi stated, adding the objective is to have as many as 10 ITF Futures tournaments in
Nigeria in the next few years.
The Tombim Abuja Open holds from May 1 to 6 while the Dayak Championship will run from May 8 to 13. The GSL Open will round off a seemingly tennis festival from May 13 to 21.
Each of the tournament has a $25, 000.00 prize-money while the competition has 35 ATP points up for grabs for each week. The winner of all three legs has the potential to jump from not being ranked at all in the world, to being ranked in the top 500 in the world.
Entries have been received from Russia, the United States, Uzbekistan Brazil, India,
Argentina, South Africa, Croatia, Spain, Zimbabwe, Canada, Uganda, Togo, France, Moldova,
Ghana, Zambia, Germany and the United Kingdom, among others.
“The competition is borne out of a desire to provide opportunities for Nigerian Players to
collect vital ATP points, and to attract some of the best up-and- coming players in the world to
play in Nigeria. The organisers also want to use the competition to show that Nigeria is not as
bad as it is portrayed around the world. We are honest, hard working, friendly and peace-loving people, who are very hospitable to foreigners,"Agabi added.
................
Caption:
Photo 1: One of Nigeria's leading women tennis players, Sarah Adegoke set for the tournaments.
Photo 2: Nigeria's Moses Michael, can he re-enact his awe-inspiring form in the tournaments?
Kwara Stadium Veterans Badminton Club will feature in the second international inter-club
badminton tournament which serves off on Friday, April 28 at Ikoyi Club, Lagos.
No fewer than 10 Clubs from Nigeria, Togo and Ghana are to take part in the two-day tournament that is scheduled to end on Saturday, April 29.
KSVBC will slug it out with defending champions, Kaduna Badminton Veterans Club, Ikeja Police College Badminton Club, Abuja Veterans Club, Chevron Warri Club, Air Force base Lagos, Country club, Lagos, LNG Club and clubs from Togo and Ghana.
Matches will be played in four categories - men's doubles group A, men's doubles group B, mixed doubles and super veterans doubles.
Speaking with sports writers before the team's departure to Lagos, captain of KSVBC, Alhaji
Sambo Magaji charged the players to showcase their skills during the tourney, just as he expressed hope that the club would return home with medals.
Sambo who is the Registrar, Kwara state College of Education Technical, Lafiagi stated that
members during the tournament would also use the opportunity to meet and network with other participants and invite them for tournament in Ilorin later in the year.
He expressed the hope that the Club would win gold in the super veterans doubles team
featuring coach Bola Mogaji and Abdulrauf Popoola.
Others who will fly the banner of KSVBC are Abdulqadir Mohammed, Yinka Abolarin, Yomi
Bakare, Tunde Akande and Mutiu Jimoh...............
Emmanuel Oluwafemi last Sunday emerged winner of the 2017 Obafemi Awolowo Tennis Club (OATC) Division B Show The Light Tennis Tournament sponsored by Mr Matthew Okoye, a member of the club.
In an exhilarating final decided at the tennis courts of Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan,
Emmanuel stopped hard fighting Ganiyu Salman with a 6-3, 6-0 scoreline.
However, Hadjh Salman was adjudged Man of the Tournament for being the only player to have played eight sets in one day en route to the final.
Emmanuel had defeated Prince Kola Ademiluyi (6-1, 6-0), Mr Obinna Odigwe (6-2, 6-0) and Mr Emeka Alfred (6-1, 6-0) in the semi-final, while Salman triumphed over Ezekiel Alebiosu a.k.a. OJ (6-0, 1-6, 7-6), Egnr. Niyi Adekola (4-6, 6-1, 6-4) and Mr Babatunde Sofumade 6-3, 6-4 in the semi-final.
Speaking during the closing ceremonies, the sponsor of the two-day tournament, Mr Okoye
'Show The Light' said he was overwhelmed by the glamour of the competition.
"I am happy about the standard of this tournament and I promise to make this tournament
an annual event God willing," he said.
He also promised to sponsor the club's Golden League later in the year.
In his remarks, OATC Club Captain, Mr Kunle Yusuf, lauded all the participants for their
impressive display in the just-ended tournament adding that "there is no doubt that Hadjh Salman remains the Man of the Tournament given his performance".
Meanwhile, Salman, who is also the Club Secretary of OATC, while speaking after the
final attributed his defeat to the tactical superiority of his opponent.
"I lost to a better opponent who was able to counter my game's strategy. Nevertheless, I am
satisfied with my performance and I hope to sustain the tempo God willing. This tournament
will remain evergreen in my life," he said.
..........
Caption:
SPIRIT OF SPORTSMANSHIP: Victorious Emmanuel Oluwafemi (left) and the runner up of the 2017 OATC Show The Light Tennis Tournament, Ganiyu Salman after the final at the tennis courts of Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.
It was a mixed feelings for Team Nigeria on Tuesday, in Lagos with the hosts being beaten by Ghana on the opening day of the first ITF/CAT 12&under West and Central Africa Teams' Championship.
Nigeria, undisputed superpower of CAT Zone 2 were stunned by their Ghanaian counterparts who won their two boy's singles matches on the day.
Amos Appau puts Ghana ahead in the boys' singles when he silenced home boy Fortune Joseph 6-4, 6-2. Joseph, who came in as a last-minute replacement for Daniel Adeleye from Ekiti state,
who is Nigeria's number one.
Adeleye was declared ineligible after the screening by ITF Development Officer, Amine Ben
Machlouf from Morocco.
Another home boy, David Ekpeyong lost 4-6, 6-7 to Lameck Bukari, leaving the boy's team with a mountain to climb following the change in format of the competition to round-robin owing to the low number of participating nations.
Iye Onoja and Oiza Yakubu restored Nigeria's pride with victories over Lawrencia Manu and
Shika Mckorley in the girls' singles. Onoja won 6-4, 6-3, while Yakubu posted 6-4, 6-0 win.
In the girl's doubles, Serena Teluwo paired Yakubu to beat Manu and Mckorley 6-1, 2-6, 12-10, while in the boy's doubles, Gabriel Inyang and Fortune fell 6-4, 6-1 to Appau and Bukari to highlight a disappointing day for the hosts.
.............
Caption:
Serena Teluwo, had a fine start in the girls' doubles.
P W L Pts
1 Plateau United 18 10 3 35
2 MFM, Lagos 19 10 6 33
3 El-Kanemi Warriors 19 11 8 33
4 Niger Tornadoes 19 9 7 30
5 Akwa United 19 8 6 29
6 Abia Warriors 19 8 7 28
7 Enyimba 19 8 7 28
8 FC IfeanyiUbah 19 8 7 28
9 Lobi Stars 19 7 6 27
10 ABS, Ilorin 19 7 8 25
11 Nasarawa Utd 18 6 6 24
12 Kano Pillars 18 7 8 24
13 Shooting Stars 19 5 7 22
14 Gombe United 18 6 8 22
15 Katsina Utd 18 6 8 22
16 Rivers United 16 5 5 21
17 Wikki Tourists 18 6 9 21
18 Sunshine Stars 18 6 9 21
19 Remo Stars 18 5 9 19
20 Enugu Rangers 15 4 7 16
Players of Enugu Rangers and Kano Pillars are to wear black arm bands during their rescheduled Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 9 fixture in Enugu on Sunday, April 23 as a mark of respect for the football fans who died in Calabar, on Thursday night while watching the Europa match between Manchester United and Anderlecht at a viewing centre in the Calabar municipality.
No fewer than 30 fans were said to have been electrocuted when a high tension cable dropped on the roof of the viewing centre.
The League Management Company (LMC) as a mark of honour for the dead fans directed players and officials of the two teams to observe a minute's silence before kick-off on Sunday.
“Football is a universal game driving passion in men, women, boys, girls, the rich and the poor
hence we have to commiserate with the unfortunate fans who could also have died in a
stadium,” the LMC Chairman, Shehu Dikko said.
He called for more safety measures to be put in place by owners of venues where football is
played and or watched on screens.
“Our sympathy at NPFL goes to the families of the dead fans and we pray that their souls rest
in peace. They will be honoured during our rescheduled game between Rangers and Pillars in
Enugu this Sunday,” Dikko stated.
YEMI Asaleye on Wednesday emerged winner of the 2017 Obafemi Awolowo Tennis Club (OATC) Division A tournament sponsored by Elder Thiraviyam Subbukutty, a member of the club.
'Asa' as he is fondly called by his admirers, won the tournament decided at the tennis courts
of Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, with a 6-2, 6-4 scoreline at the expense of irrepressible
Barrister Leye Adepoju.
A former renowned footballer, Barrister Adepoju had defeated Abusi Green in the semi-final 6-2, 7-5, while Asaleye, a Solar energy expert had triumphed over Barrister Leye Olubajo 6-3, 6-0 in another thrilling semi-final clash.
Speaking during the closing ceremony, the sponsor of the tournament, Elder Kutty promised to make it an annual event in response to the request from the OATC Club Captain, Mr Kunle Yusuf.
The OATC Club Captain in his remarks commended the fighting spirit of all the participants saying the standard of play was quite impressive.
He thanked the sponsor for the kind gesture saying the competition has now become an annual
event at Easter period with the green light received from Elder Kutty.
Meanwhile, the OATC Show The Light tournament for Division B players sponsored by Mr Matthew Okoye is scheduled to hold on Saturday, April 22 from 7am at the tennis courts of Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan.
.............
Captions:
Photo 1: From left, the winner of the tournament, Yemi Asaleye; the sponsor Elder Subbukutty and the runner up, Barrister Leye Adepoju.
Photo 2: SPIRIT OF SPORTSMANSHIP: Solar energy expert, Yemi Asaleye left and Barrister Adepoju pose for a snapshot after the final.
*FC IfeanyiUbah 2 Shooting Stars 1
Sunday Faleye -Shooting Stars (21st min)
Godwin Obaje -IfeanyiUbah (58th, 85th min)
*Enyimba 1 Remo Stars 0
Stephen Chukwude (41st min)
*Plateau United 3 Katsina United 0
Reuben Bala (7th min)
Kabiru Umar (47th min)
Jimmy Ambrose (85th min)
*Akwa United 2 MFM, Lagos 0
Alhassan Ibrahim (18th min)
Ubong Friday (31st min)
*Niger Tornadoes 1 Kano Pillars 0
Ebenezer Odeyemi
*Lobi Stars 3 Sunshine Stars 1
Anthony Okpotu -Lobi Stars (hat-trick)
*El-Kanemi Warriors 1 ABS, Ilorin 0
Samuel Mathias (41st min)
*Abia Warriors 2 Wikki Tourists 0
*Gombe United 3 Enugu Rangers 3
Obinna Nwobodo -Rangers (12th min)
Obinna Nwobodo -Rangers (58th min)
Austine Oladapo -Gombe (63rd min)
Austine Oladapo -Gombe (65th min)
Ibrahim Abdullahi -Gombe (92nd min)
Osas Okoro -Rangers (95th min)
Wednesday, April 19
Enyimba vs Remo Stars
Plateau United vs Katsina United
Gombe United vs Enugu Rangers
Abia Warriors vs Wikki Tourists
Nasarawa United vs Rivers United
El-Kanemi Warriors vs ABS, Ilorin
Akwa United vs MFM, Lagos
Niger Tornadoes vs Kano Pillars
FC IfeanyiUbah vs Shooting Stars
Lobi Stars vs Sunshine Stars ...........
*Shooting Stars 2 Niger Tornadoes 1
Sunday Faleye -Shooting Stars (36th min)
Wilfred Ammeh -Niger Tornadoes (75th min)
Assiri Emmanuel -Shooting Stars (81st min)
*Rivers United 1 Abia Warriors 0
Bolaji Sakin (30th min)
* Kano Pillars 0 Akwa United 1
Christian Pyagbara (19th min)
*MFM, Lagos 3 El-Kanemi Warriors 0
Austine Ogunye (19th min)
Sikiru Olatunbosun (27th min)
Stephen Odey (43rd min)
*Katsina United 2 Enyimba 1
Chinedu Ohanchom -Enyimba
Obinna Eleje -Katsina Utd
Chinedu Udechukwu -Katsina Utd
*Wikki Tourists 3 Gombe United 1
Chukwudi Samuel -Wikki (3rd min)
Abubakar Lawan -Wikki (23rd min)
Sadiq Shuaibu -Gombe (59th min)
Hassan Hussein -Wikki (82nd min)
*ABS, Ilorin 1 Nasarawa United 0
Ernest Governor (87th min)
*Sunshine Stars 1 Remo Stars 0
Thomas Adesina (13th min)
*Enugu Rangers 1 Plateau United 0
Daniel Etor (22nd min)
*Lobi Stars 0 FC IfeanyiUbah 0
Sunday, April 9
Katsina United vs Enyimba
Enugu Rangers vs Plateau United
Wikki Tourists vs Gombe United
Rivers United vs Abia Warriors
ABS, Ilorin vs Nasarawa United
MFM, Lagos vs El-Kanemi Warriors
Kano Pillars vs Akwa United
Shooting Stars vs Niger Tornadoes
Lobi Stars vs FC IfeanyiUbah
Sunshine Stars vs Remo Stars
*Remo Stars 1 Katsina Utd 0
Eric Dufegha (88th min)
*Enyimba 2 Enugu Rangers 1
Daniel Etor -Rangers (7th min)
Samuel Chukwude -Enyima (55th min)
Mfon Udoh -Enyimba (88th min)
*Plateau Utd 1 Wikki Tourists 0
Reuben Bala (57th min)
*Gombe Utd 1 Rivers United 0
Idris Bakare (26th min)
*Abia Warriors 2 ABS, Ilorin 0
Sunday Adetunji (80th, 83rd min)
*Nasarawa Utd 4 MFM, Lagos 0
Adamu Hassan (1st min)
Yinka Onaolapo (61st min)
Anthonin Oussou (83rd min)
Abdulrahman Bashir (86th min)
*El-Kanemi Warriors 1 Kano Pillars 0
Mathias Samuel (53rd min)
*Akwa United 4 Shooting Stars 2
Friday Ubong -Akwa Utd (11th min)
Alhassan Ibrahim -Akwa Utd (28th, 36th, 44th min)
Moses James -Shooting Stars (58th min)
Taiwo Shittu -Shooting Stars (90th min)
*Niger Tornadoes 2 Lobi Stars 1
Ibrahim Babawo -Niger Tornadoes (Brace)
Luther Iyorhe -Lobi Stars
*FC IfeanyiUbah 2 Sunshine Stars 1
Joseph Abbey -Sunshine Stars (64th min)
Godwin Obaje -FC IfeanyiUbah (77th min)
Pascal Seka -FC IfeanyiUbah (87th min)
Caption:
Alhassan Ibrahim grabbed a hat-trick for Akwa United in a Match Day 17 clash with Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) last Sunday. He became the second player to score a hat-trick this season in the 2017 Nigeria Professional Football League after MFM's Stephen Odey.
Sunday, April 2
Remo Stars vs Katsina Utd
Enyimba vs Rangers
Plateau Utd vs Wikki Tourists
Gombe Utd vs Rivers United
Abia Warriors vs ABS FC
Nasarawa Utd vs MFM FC
El-Kanemi Warriors vs Kano Pillars
Akwa United vs Shooting Stars
Niger Tornadoes vs Lobi Stars
FC IfeanyiUbah vs Sunshine Stars
