NTF Targets Youth Development For Tennis Success
The President of Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Ifedayo Akindoju, said the Federation is focusing on raising a generation of younger players to win laurels for the country.
On Monday in Abuja, Akindoju said that older players were usually affected by age and would not go far in competitions. According to him, the Federation’s major focus is on the junior tournaments.
“We are focusing on raising the younger generation of players and that is going very well,” Akindoju said. “The Federation is lucky to have a sponsor that is supporting in establishing a small Academy that has been opened here at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.”
“We have four players that are captured in that Academy for now, but we have done very well so far,” Akindoju added. “One of the players is currently in this category, the Under-14 and he is African number 1, he is Seun Ogunsakin.”
“We equally have David Ekpenyong, who has progressed to become the best tennis player in Nigeria today and he has just turned 19 years,”
Akindoju also confirmed that two international competitions have been lined up to be hosted by the Federation in February in Abuja.
“The NTF is introducing the World Master Tour,” he added. “This is neither for the junior category nor professionals but for the advanced players from the age of 35 to over 90.”
“In order to create further awareness. We are putting the timing in such a time when the World master tour is going on at the same time as the World junior tournament.”
He said other programmes lined up includes the Davies Cup, Billie Jean Cup and the African games in Ghana, NTF coaching Conference and NTF officiating schools. Others are the CBN Open, Davnoth Open.
