Okocha thrills fans as Okika, Eze win Luik tennis tourney

FORMER Super Eagles skipper, Austin Okocha, was the cynosure of all eyes when he played an exhibition match with another celebrity, Dare Art Alade, shortly before the final matches in the men and women singles of the fourth yearly Luik Tennis and Recreation Club League. The competition ended at the weekend at the club’s courts in Lekki. Every touch of Okocha and Art Alade were received with cheers during the highly entertaining exhibition match.

After the exhibition match, Emelie Okika stepped out to defeat Rume Dubre 7/ 5, 6/ 2 to lift the men’s singles title, while Betsy Eze defeated Mobolaji Ogundairo in straight sets of 6/ 4,6/ 2 to win the women’s version. The most explosive match of the day was the men’s doubles final between Rume Dubre/ Godwin Kienka and Tope Aremu/ Bayo Oguntunde. After losing the first set at 6/ 4, the pair of Dubre and Kienka won the second set 6/ 3 and went ahead to win the tough decider in the rubber 11/ 9, as spectators were kept at the edge of their seats for the better duration of the encounter.

Excited by the standard of the competition, which started on April 15, Chief Operating Officer of Luik Tennis Recreation Club, Uzonna Izugbokwe, said, “The players were just too keen to win and it was like the grand slam event in a very friendly atmosphere. We have had loads of fun in the past two weeks or so.

“I want to thank our sponsors - Nigeria Breweries Limited under brand, Amstel, ARM Pensions and Redbull- they were really supportive. We are so happy and hope the next edition will be better.”