SPORTS
Kienka Urges Ekiti, Oyo to Send Tennis Prodigies to Foreign Tennis Academies
By Orkula Shaagee, Abuja
The Director of the International Tennis Academy, who is in the forefront of developing tennis talent in Nigeria, Godwin Kienka, has called on the Ekiti and Oyo State governments to send two outstanding tennis talents – Seun Ogunsakin and Mubarak Ganiyu from Ekiti and Oyo States respectively to tennis academies in Portugal, France or Spain.
Kienka, whose ITA Junior Circuit of tournaments has provided the platform to discover junior talents in Nigeria said these two boys aged 14, have the potential to hit the top 50 in the ATP rankings in the next six years if they are sent to reputable academies now.
The ITA director should know because he has covered every possible aspect of the game of tennis and produced several champions.
He was the first to take a home based player Clara Udofa to compete at the US Open Championships junior event. Clara was the youngest national senior champion at 14 and the first Nigerian to be ranked on the WTA tour in the 600s in her first year of turning professional. He was also the first black African to qualify as an international tennis official.As a journalist, Kienka had covered all the Grand Slam tournaments and was publisher and editor of the world famous Tennis Africa Magazine which got an international award.
“Ogunsakin and Mubarak have great potential and luckily for them Governors Makinde and Bamidele both play and love the game of tennis. But even if they do not, they owe it to their State and the nation to help these boys realize their full potential. The money the States will spend on the boys will be nothing compared to the glory and prize monies they will bring to this country if they succeed as I am sure they would,” Kienka said.
“I would recommend the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy by Movistar in Spain because Ogunsakin has the style and mannerisms of the famous owner who I am sure will fall in love with him, or the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in Paris where Serena Williams works out. I am sure we can use our network to get the best possible discounts,” he added.
Ogunsakin and Ganiyu are the most promising juniors in Nigeria. Ogunsakin last March won the boys 14 and 16 titles at the CBN Junior Tennis Championships getting an education grant of N200, 000 for that achievement. Ganiyu was finalist in the 14s and has since made tremendous progress including one win over Ogunsakin.
The tournament will feature competitions in boys and girls 10s, 12s, 14s and 16s.
Nasarawa United Football Club of Lafia on Saturday defeated Lobi Stars of Makurdi 1-0 in a pulsating North Central derby.
The matchday 16 fixture of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premiere Football League (NPFL) was played at the Lafia Township Stadium, Nasarawa State capital.
The Makurdi side had adopted the Lafia Township Stadium as their home ground for the 2024/2025 NPFL season.
The only goal of the match was scored by Qamar Adegoke in the 12th minute of the match to give all three points to the Lafia side.
Adegoke’s goal, who joined the Lafia team recently, was his second in four matches.
The Nasarawa attacker capitalised on a defensive error by the opponent’s backline and hit the back of the net to give Nasarawa United the advantage.
In a post-match interview, Kabir Dogo, Technical Adviser of Nasarawa United, hailed his players for taking all three points.
He explained that his team had improved by scoring five goals in their last three matches and expressed optimism that they would do better in subsequent games.
“We had a problem in the area of goal scoring in the past, but this has changed in our last three games,” he said.
With the win, Nasarawa United climbed to 14th on the NPFL table, while Lobi Stars remain on 17th position. (NAN)
The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) is organising a two-day National Coaching Seminar, with the theme: “Leadership and Management Skills”.
The event will take place from Dec. 17 to Dec. 18, at the Additional Sports and Entertainment (ASEP) Pro Limited, in Mowe, Ogun State.
The seminar will enhance the capabilities of Nigerian table tennis coaches, with a particular emphasis on female coaches, aligning with the International Table Tennis Federation’s (ITTF) Gender Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) Initiative.
A statement issued by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, on Tuesday, said that the seminar was part of the one-week sports and leadership boot camp titled “Awaken the Giant, She Can 4.
0,” proudly supported by NTTF.“This seminar will also represent the third stage of the 2024 “My Gender, My Strength” programme, which has table tennis star Abosede Akinsete, as a beneficiary.
“NTTF President,Tikon Ishaku, Vice President, Adesoji Tayo, and other board members are dedicated to initiatives that support the development of coaches.
“Wahid Enitan-Oshodi, ITTF Executive Vice President, and President of ITTF-Africa, reaffirms his commitment to empowering women in sports, in line with the GEDI Initiative.
He explained that the seminar would feature people, who would speak on leadership and management skills, to enhance the abilities of coaches to identify and develop talents, as well as encourage the development of high-performance table tennis players capable of competing globally. (NAN)
Rivers United Football Club of Port Harcourt on Sunday returned to the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) summit as strong rivals Remo Stars FC faltered on Match Day 13.
Report says that Rivers United beat visiting Abia Warriors of Umuahia 1-0 after an Ndifreke Effiong 58th minute goal from the penalty kick spot.
Effiong’s goal in the match at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium helped them to move to 25 points from 13 matches, after seven wins, four draws and two losses.
Former leaders Remo Stars dropped to second with 23 points from 13 matches after seven wins, two draws and four losses, following a 0-2 loss to hosts Katsina United.
Plateau United of Jos beat visiting Nasarawa United of Lafia 2-0 to bolster their position.
Shooting Stars Sports Club also struggled to a 1-0 win over visiting Bayelsa United of Yenago.
A 15th minute goal by Anthony Okachi at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan gave them the win.
El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri had on Saturday beaten Akwa United of Uyo 1-0 to move into third place on the table with 22 points from 13 games.
Enyimba International of Aba remained in fourth place with 20 points from 12 matches, with their week 13 game against Sunshine Stars of Akure on hold.
Rangers International of Enugu are in fifth place with 20 points also, after a goalless draw with hosts Heartland FC ain Owerri on Saturday.
Bendel Insurance of Benin had also beaten Kwara United of Ilorin 3-1, while Lobi Stars of Makurdi drew 2-2 with visiting Kano Pillars in Lafia.
NAN reports that the league will enter Match Day 14 on Wednesday.(NAN)
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