Odizor Pulls out of NTF Presidency Race

Nigeria’s most successful tennis player, Nduka Odizor, will no more be running for the top position of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) due to what he referred to as ‘some unethical practices that do not tally with my personal principles’.

Odizor, who dominated the stage in the 80s and emerged as the only Nigerian player to have reached the Round of 16 of the famous All England Club Tennis (Wimbledon) Tournament, disclosed at the weekend that, “I collected the form, filled it out and met all the conditions set before realising certain practices which I do not feel very comfortable passing through to be elected into that office (of NTF board).

“Rather, I have redirected my efforts to build a new generation of tennis players in the country. I will use my tennis foundation to set up six tennis development centres across the nation in partnership with some existing organisations.

“All the six centres will be in place before the end of December 2018. Apart from this, I have a special tennis programme for all the states in the Niger Delta region.

“Whoever eventually wins the Presidency of the NTF will enjoy a cosy, maximum support structure from my team. Three key championships will be worked out to return to make more champions out of Nigeria. They are the Lord Rumens, Ogbe Hard Court and the Dala Clay Court. I will not jettison these visions I had laid out to achieve for the country.

“I don’t have to belong to the tennis board to be able to contribute my quota to the game that brought me fame, name and all I am today. I remain ever grateful to Nigeria, tennis and it is time to resurrect the sport. That is what I have committed myself to achieve,” observed Odizor who most tennis aficionados were looking up to for redemption of the game in the country.

He promised further that the first of his tennis centres will become reality this week.

“To show my commitment, by next (this) week, the first centre will become public. It is our desire to make this first centre support the campaign for breast cancer, a campaign I have devoted my time to prosecute and wants to make a serious public issue on in our country.”