Tennis
By Tunmise Omosofe
Lagos, Sept. 2, 2026 (NAN) Participants at the ongoing Adewale Isa Foundation Tennis Tournament have commended organisers for their encouragement and support in their quest for talent discovery.
The tournament which enters its third day on Wednesday is in collaboration with Milo Nigeria.
The initiative which is with the theme: “Impacting Lives Through Tennis and Education,” features nearly 300 young players competing in the U-12, U-14 and U-16 categories.
The tournament is aimed at encouraging wider participation in tennis and fostering a sense of community among players, parents and supporters.
The event is organised in memory of late Adewale Isa, a tennis coach, by his family, in a bid to sustain his legacy.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the event in Lagos, Oluchi Ozurumba, Coach of Imo State players, said sponsorship was key, just as quality coaching.
She noted that with these two available, it would help in the development and projection of young tennis players.
“If you have a good sponsor or have someone who can sponsor you, I believe that person will do better,” she said.
The coach noted that regular tournaments was also critical in improving players, noting that losing was part of their development.
“The more you come out for tournaments, the more you improve,” Ozurumba said.
She called for more support for young players, saying, that the most important thing was sponsorship.
Ozurumba also commended the tournament organisers for catching players young, saying early development would help them become better.
Mofifunoluwa Atilola, a top seed competing in the U-16 category, on her part, said the tournament had helped her understand her game and identify areas of improvement.
Atilola, who won the tournament last year, said she was working to improve her game and appreciated the foundation’s support.
“They have done so much for me financially, everything. They are just the best and I am so grateful I have them,” she said.
She said she hoped to win again by practicing breathing exercises and believing in herself.
“My goal is to be world number one, win many Grand Slams and break a lot of records,” she said.
Also speaking, Ifeanyi Obiora, father of Chimdiuto Obiora, described tennis as “a great individual sport” that had contributed to his daughter’s development.
Obiora said Chimdiuto showed interest in tennis at age three, recalling that her movement with a racket convinced him she could excel.
“I knew this girl would be good in tennis, so I would like to just follow it up and it has been great news since then,” he said.
He noted that sports and education went hand-in-hand, adding that tennis had encouraged his daughter to read and learn about the sport.
“Sports helps education. Her doing sports opens her head to the books she reads,” Obiora said.
Obiora described the tournament as “a great initiative” and called for more editions, preferably at the regional level.
According to him, tennis teaches children discipline and accountability, while also providing educational opportunities through scholarships.
“What really stands out for me is the self-discipline that it actually puts in a child,” he said.
Meanwhile NAN reports that at the tournament, both the boys and girls had displayed remarkable passion and confidence, as they comfortably dispatched opponents in tightly contested matches.
In the boys’ U-12 match Smart Miqdad played against Chukwemeka Egereonu with winning score of 4-1, 4-1.
In another encounter, Godwin Afaramai defeated Waliu Jimoh with scores of 4-2, 5-3.
In the boys’ U-14 match, Friday Testimony defeated Ibrahim Mustapha, with the winning score of 4-1, 4-1.
In another encounter, Goodluck Akinfunmilayo defeated Korede Taiwo with the winning score of 4-1, 4-0.
In the girls’ U-14 match, Kimberly Ogundeyi defeated Nora Awode, with the winning score of 4-1, 4-0.
In another encounter, Chisimdi Afam-Bonu defeated Faridat Abudalraheem, with the winning score of 4-0, 4-0.
Meanwhile, Adesinmi Olaniyan also defeated Favour Kenneth, with scores of 4-0, 4-0.
In the boys’ U-16 match, Frank Enoch defeated Joseph David in straight sets, winning 4-1, 4-0.
Also Heman Afaramai played against Basit Adepoju with winning scores of 5-4, 5-3.
The six-day tournament, which started on Aug. 31, will run until Sept. 5, at the Lagos Main Tennis Club, National Stadium, Lagos.
The tournament which had recorded a higher turnout than the previous edition, also features improved prize structure and increased participation. (NAN)
OOD/CCN
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Edited by Chinyere Nwachukwu
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