Civil Defence to battle Team Muller in NCC Tennis League finals
T@shagcy
eam Civil Defence won their second final of the NCC Tennis League in three years after beating defending champions Team Offikwu of Kaduna 6-1 in the second semifinals decided in Abuja over the weekend.
Team Civil Defence, runners-up in the first edition and third place finishers last year will meet debutantes and hot favourites Team Muller of Lagos in the finals taking place at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club this weekend Saturday December 9 and Sunday December 10.
The Abuja based paramilitary team took full advantage of a depleted and injury ravaged Team Offikwu whose lead player, Sylvester Emmanuel did not look fully recover from an appendicitis operation he had eight weeks ago. The defending champions also did not have the services of Shehu Lawal who had traveled to the Emirates to pursue a coaching career.
Former national champion, Clifford Enosoregbe, started the rout by beating Emmanuel 6-3, 6-2 and Abdulmumuni Babalola followed with a decisive 6-2, 6-2 victory over Henry Atseye who was also said to be spotting an ankle sprain.
Sarah Adegoke, the leading female player in Nigeria, halted the onslaught temporarily by defeating Christie Agugbom 6-2, 6-2 in the ladies’ singles but Team Civil Defence not ready to leave anything to chance, fielded their strongest combination of Babalola and Enosoregbe to win the men’s doubles against Atseye and Emmanuel 6-4, 6-3 to stretch their lead to 3-1.