Ubale demands more govt support for AJC success

Head Coach of Nigeria Junior tennis Team, Mohammed Ubale has sent a passionate appeal to the government to come to the aid of the team as they hope to prepare adequately for the forthcoming Africa Junior Championship in South Africa in March.

After dominating at the just concluded ITF/CAT West and Central Africa Championship in Lome, Togo, the Nigerian team is now looking forward to the continental championship in South Africa to prove it is not just a regional force.

Coach Ubale in a chat with Daily Trust said going by the present economic situation in the country, the Nigeria Tennis Federation alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of preparing and sponsoring the team to the championship in South Africa.

He said the tennis federation over the years has been responsible for the team’s participation in international tournaments with little or no support coming from other sponsors.

Ubale, therefore, said the time has come for the government, corporate bodies and other wellmeaning Nigerians to come to the support of the tennis federation.

“It is a good thing that we once again dominated the championship in Togo. The players gave a good account of themselves. They qualified for the Africa Junior Championship in South Africa, the Junior Davies Cup and the Federation Cup.

“We need early preparations for us to do well at these international tournaments. However, we have always faced the problem of funding. The tennis federation usually bears the cost but right now the responsibility is too much for it to bear alone,” he said.