NTF, Organisers In Crucial Talks Ahead 2011 CBN Open

Tennis Special reliably gathered that crucial discussions are ongoing  between the Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF, and the big wigs of Central Bank of Nigeria about the organisation of the 2011 edition of CBN Senior Tennis Open Championship.

The CBN Open, which is a major national tennis championship in the country, will enter its 33rd edition this year.

Speaking on the programme on ground for the smooth organisation of  the tennis classic which has turned out great stars for the country over the year, Secretary General of the NTF, Mrs. Nkana Mbora, said that in the past few days  the officials of the federation and the CBN are in  crucial talks about the competition.

Mbora said: “We have been having discussion with the CBN about how best we can package the annual CBN Open this year. I want to say that our talks were fruitful with the determination on the part of the CBN officials that this year’s tourney will be better organised with a lot of side attractions.

“Although the date of the competition has not been announced to us, the officials of the CBN have given us assurance that the tournament will come up as planned. And on the part of the federation, we are working towards the same time the tourney was organised last year, which was from 31 May to 5 June, 2010.”

The NTF’s scribe disclosed that the federation is not directly responsible for the preparation of the players ahead of the CBN Open.

She said: “This is not an international tournament where the federation will be responsible for the preparation of the Nigerian players. CBN Open is a national competition, so the players will prepare on their own, as the tourney is usually used to determine our national rankings in both the men and women’s categories.”

The CBN splashed about N6million prize money on the players in the 32nd edition held last year at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos State. The winner of the Men’s Singles, Sunday Emmanuel won   N600, 000. He defeated Candy Idoko 7-6, 6-2 in the final, while the defending champion of the  women’s category, Fatima Abinu, defeated Anu Ayegbusi 6-1, 7-5 to win N400, 000.

After the competition, the winners in the singles and doubles’ events were feted by the management of the CBN at the Best Weston Hotels, Bar Beach, Lagos.