Tennis stakeholders at the City Sports Club in Abuja have highlighted the importance of grassroots development for the sport, emphasizing the need to discover and nurture young talents for the future of tennis in Nigeria.
This call was made during a one-day Interactive Tennis Tournament held over the weekend to celebrate the 80th birthday of Pa Eugene Iwuh. The event took place at the Temporary Club House, Police Officers Mess, Garki 2, Abuja.
Mr. Sylvester Uzoama, Vice President of the City Sports Club, Abuja, extended birthday wishes to Pa Iwuh and reiterated the club’s commitment to fostering tennis growth from the grassroots level. He also emphasized the benefits of playing tennis, particularly its role in promoting longevity, wellness, and mental sharpness.
“Tennis is a game that contributes to longevity. It combines physical activity, wellness, and mental engagement,” Uzoama stated. “These are the qualities that help individuals navigate the challenges of life. Pa Iwuh, who continues to play at 80, is a testament to this. As a club, we dedicate our efforts to introducing children to the sport and guiding them through its fundamentals.”
Club Captain Chukwunonso Nwabueze noted that the interactive session was also aimed at raising awareness about the need for corporate entities and individuals to invest in tennis.
“Our goal is to emphasize the importance of investing in tennis. The sport brought pride to Nigeria in the 70s and 80s, with players like Nduka Odizor, Kylian Nwokedi, David Imonite, Sule Ladipo, and Tony Mmoh leading the way. Unfortunately, Nigeria has struggled to produce top players in recent years. However, we remain hopeful that events like this will encourage others to support grassroots tennis development in the FCT,” Nwabueze said.
High Chief Eugene Iwuh, the celebrant, praised the Nigeria Tennis Federation for its efforts but urged a return to grassroots development to secure the sport’s future. He expressed concerns about the performance of overage athletes at the Olympics, highlighting the need to invest in young talents.
“We must return to the grassroots to identify and develop young talents, as they represent the future of the sport. The issues we faced at the Olympics were due to the fact that many of our athletes were overage and couldn’t sustain their performance. It’s disappointing that with so many young talents in Nigeria, we still rely on older athletes to compete on the global stage,” Iwuh remarked.
Dipo Obanewa, Chairman of the Organizing Committee and a Board of Trustees member of the club, used Pa Eugene, known as the “Professor of Tennis,” as an example of how sports can benefit an individual’s mental and physical well-being. He encouraged those not currently involved in sports, particularly tennis, to get active.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Anthony Udoh of the City Sports Club, Abuja, won the tournament with 11 points. John Kekeocha of the same club finished second with 10 points, while Brenda Bassey of Abuja Country Club and Obibia Edere of City Sports Club, Abuja, tied for third place with nine points each.
