Team Oluyole player, Colleen Orji has said that having an opportunity to feature in the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Tennis League would give her career a new lease of life.
Orji is one of the female players to be paraded by Team Oluyole as they make their debut in the NCC Tennis League later in the year.
The University of Ibadan graduate said she will make the best use of the opportunity of playing in the top flight NCC League which she believes would take her career to the next level.
"I am happy that I'm going to be part of Team Oluyole that will make debut in the NCC League. This will help us {players} a lot. I am eagerly looking forward to playing in the NCC League. Playing against top players in the country in the NCC League will help us to
perform better in other NTF-ranked competitions," said the 17th ranked Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) player.
Orji also revealed how she embraced tennis as an under graduate.
"I actually started tennis late. It was when I was studying Human Kinetics and Health Education at the University of Ibadan and Dr Molahan was our tennis coach and he encouraged us to choose one sport which we must partake in and that was why I chose tennis.
"It's been fun playing tennis. I represented Oyo state at Eko 2012 National Sports Festival and since then, I have featured in a number of tournaments. I finished my degree programme two years ago and today, I combine tennis with fashion designing for a living," said the Abia state-born Orji.
The dark-skinned player said she didn't feel bad losing in the first round of the 39th Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) senior Tennis Championship which ended on June 3 in Lagos.
"I lost to Patience Onebamhoin {6-1, 6-0} in the first round {at CBN Tennis} and I was not in any way disturbed by the defeat because I learned a lot from my opponent which will surely help my game. So, I was happy that I played against a top-ranked player in the country. The match exposed my flaws and I was able to realise that I have a lot to do in my tennis career.
"Last year I also featured at Dala Hard court Tournament and it was a rewarding experience too. I lost to Loveth Donatus 6-2, 6-2 but that gave me the ticket to play in this year's CBN tournament.
"As I said, playing in this year's CBN championship has boosted my game and I never regret losing to a better ranked player like Patience," Orji, who urged the new leadership of the Nigeria Tennis Federation to organise more competitions for female players in the country said.
Caption:
Colleen Orji before a tournament in Lagos.
VETERAN Abdulmumuni Babalola on Saturday, June 3, 2017 at the centre court of the National Stadium, Lagos, clinched the 39th Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Senior Tennis title.
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) man defeated Joseph Imeh in two straight sets 6-4, 6-3 to claim his sixth victory in the annual prestigious tournament and the star
prize money of N700,000.
Ibadan-based Babalola who last won the CBN title in 2014 at the expense of Henry Atseye (6-2, 6-2) had sent a warning signal to reclaim the title he last won in 2014 when he sent Spain-based and highly-favoured Sylvester Emmanuel packing after three sets 3-6,
6-3, 6-4 in the semi-final.
Babalola with this victory needs one more title victory to equal the seven record wins held by David Imonite (1982, 83, 84, 87, 88, 89, 91).
'Munaco' as he is fondly called, it will be recalled, won the CBN title in 2002, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2014 before the 2017 victory.
It was a tournament to remember for Babalola as he had earlier claimed the men's doubles title, when he paired age-long partner Shehu Lawal to beat Joseph Imeh and Mohammad Mohammad 7-5, 7-5.
Interestingly, another Ibadan-based player, Sarah Adegoke claimed the women’s’ singles title when she outclassed former junior sensation Marylove Edwards 6-0, 6-3 in the final.
It was Adegoke's first title win in the CBN senior championship having lost in the 2012 final to former number women's number one, Fatima Abinu.
The final was not a difficult one for Adegoke especially in the first set as she put her wealth of experience to bear on the day to overwhelm 12-year-old opponent.
Edwards coached by Kayode Savage emerged the revelation of this year's CBN championship having defeated experienced players including Blessing Samuel 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 in the semi-final.
However, Adegoke alongside Amina Quadri had lost to Christy Agugbom and Blessing Samuel in the women’s doubles final after three hard fought sets 6-2, 3-6 10-8.
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Caption:
From left, men's singles champion, Abdulmumuni Babalola; sponsor of Dayak tennis and newly-elected President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, Mr Dayo Akindoju and the winner of the women's singles of the 39th CBN Senior Tennis championship, Sarah Adegoke after
their victories in Lagos.
Abia Warriors 2 Plateau Utd 1
Shooting Stars 2 ABS 0
Kano Pillars 3 MFM 1
El-Kanemi 2 Remo Stars 0
Akwa United 2 Katsina Utd 0
Sunshine Stars 2 Gombe Utd 1
Nasarawa 1 Enyimba 0
FC IfeanyiUbah 0 Wikki Tourists 0
Match Day 23 results:
*Akwa United 2 Wikki Tourists 0
Musa Newman (25th min)
Christian Pyagbara (45th min)
*Gombe United 1 Enyimba 1
*FC IfeanyiUbah 2 ABS, Ilorin 0
*El-Kanemi Warriors 1 Rangers 1
*Lobi Stars 3 MFM, Lagos 1
*Shooting Stars 0 Kano Pillars 0
*Niger Tornadoes 1 Rivers United 0
*Nasarawa United 2 Katsina United 0
*Sunshine Stars 1 Plateau United 2
*Abia Warriors 0 Remo Stars 0
Match Day 24 results:
*
MFM, Lagos 1 Shooting Stars 0
*ABS, Ilorin 1 Lobi Stars 0
*Rivers Utd 2 FC IfeanyiUbah 1
*Wikki Tourists 3 Niger Tornadoes 1
*Rangers 1 Akwa United 0
*Katsina Utd 3 El-Kanemi 0
*Remo Stars 1 Nasarawa Utd 0
*Enyimba 2 Abia Warriors 1
*Plateau Utd 5 Gombe United 1
*Kano Pillars 3 Sunshine Stars 1
Sunday, June 11
*MFM, Lagos vs Shooting Stars
*ABS, Ilorin vs Lobi Stars
*Rivers Utd vs FC IfeanyiUbah
*Wikki Tourists vs Niger Tornadoes
*Enugu Rangers vs Akwa United
*Katsina Utd vs El-Kanemi Warriors
*Remo Stars vs Nasarawa United
*Enyimba vs Abia Warriors
*Plateau Utd vs Gombe United
*Kano Pillars vs Sunshine Stars
