Six Nigerians through to AJC finals
Six of Nigeria’s representatives at the ongoing African Junior Tennis Championship (AJC) zonal qualifiers for the West and Central Africa in Abuja, have booked their places into the final of the four categories of the double-phase week-long event.
Nigeria has been guaranteed gold and silver in the boys and girls 16 and under final of the Confederation of African Tennis sanctioned event with the duo of Sylvester Emmanuel and Michael Michael qualifying for the final billed for today.
It was the same scenario in the girls 16 and under as Elizabeth Pam justified her decision to come all the way from London to play for Nigeria, as she booked a final ticket alongside compatriot Zainab Oladimeji.
Nigeria also dominate the boys’ 14 and under as highlighted by the qualification of Peter Lawal and Christopher Itodo to the final.
National Junior Tennis coach Mohammed Ubale attributed the country’s dominant display at the event to the support of the Engr Sani Ndanusa-led Nigeria Tennis Federation which has shifted its secretariat to the nation’s capital for about two weeks in order to see the smooth running of the preparation of the country’s players.
Our preparation for this championship has really been excellent and it really brings out the best in the performance of our players. The supports we have been getting really drive the passion and commitment of the players,” Ubale said.
Nigeria, going by the current events, will have one of the largest representations at the 2014 AJC which holds in Kenya later in the year.