Players Jostle For Slots Ahead Of AJC In Abuja

Thirty four selected players from the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF)’s trials yesterday resumed camping for the 2012 Africa Junior Tennis Championship (AJC) qualifiers for West and Central nations.

According to the national junior coach, Mohammed Ubale, the players were picked based on their performance during the trials while 22 of them are expected to make the final team for the AJC qualifiers holding in Abuja from February 6 to 12.

With 15 countries expected at the qualifiers, Ubale said the camp was made possible through the efforts of the NTF and an Abuja-based businessman, Aminu Kurfi “aka Banarewa,” who has been supporting the game .

The coach lauded the federation and Kurfi for keeping faith with the sport, adding that the coaching crew of Babatunde Abe, Margaret Oladunjoye and Benson Ishicheli would intensify efforts to select the best for the country. The only bronze-badge International Tennis Federation umpire in West and Central Africa, Seidu Musa, will assist the technical crew during the camping.

Among the players in camp are Emmanuel Idoko and Joseph Imeh, while Sylvester Emmanuel and Michael Michael are expected to join the camp from their three-month training exercise in Holland.

In the 12 and under category for boys, those invited are; Martins Abamu from Lagos, Gadafi Yakubu (Taraba), Christopher Itodo (Kaduna), Peter Kwange (Niger), Paul Kwange (Niger) and Godgift Timi of Rivers State. The girls invited in the same category include Faith Sunday (FCT), Sophia Orlu (Rivers), Bunmi Are (Kwara) and Peace Bulus of Taraba State.

The boys invited for the 14 and under category are Sylvester Emmanuel (Kaduna), Michael Michael (Kaduna), Emmanuel Sunday (FCT), Isaac Omeruah (FCT), Odeyemi Ayobami (Ogun), Noah Yusuf (Plateau) and Olajibiti Michael of Ekiti. The girls in vitede in the 14 and under category are Zainab Oladimeji (Ondo), Aniso Ordu (Rivers), Ene Patrick (FCT) and Anu Kolawole of Ekiti.

In the boys 16 and under category, there are Emmanuel Idoko (Lagos), Joseph Imeh (Lagos), Edward Christopher (FCT), Mohammed Mohammed (Ekiti), Abubakar Sadiq (FCT), Abraham Olatunji (Niger) and Ahmed Adamu of the FCT while that of the girls in the same category include Serah Adegoke (Ogun), Christal Nzewi (Lagos) and Comfort Spencer FCT.

Others include Taiwo Ogunsola (Kwara), Mary Shapemp (FCT) and Kehinde Ogunsola of Kwara.