19th March, 2013
President, Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF, Engr. Sani Ndanusa, has confirmed that wheelchair tennis will feature at this year’s Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Senior Tennis Championship.
Ndanusa, who made this confirmation to P.M.NEWS Tennis Special explained that it was a move to ensure that wheelchair tennis players are adequately prepared for the forthcoming World Team Cup in Turkey in May.
“I can confirm to you that wheelchair tennis will feature at next month’s CBN Open. After the Junior Championship few weeks ago, I met with the management of the apex bank and the officials agreed to include wheelchair tennis in the programme of the CBN Open this year. “I’m really excited about this because the players have been complaining of not having tournaments to play. We want to use the players’ participation in the CBN Open as preparatory tourney ahead of the World Team Cup in Antalya, Turkey in May,” said Ndanusa, who is also the President of Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC.
Ndanusa further stated that henceforth every major championship in the country will be featuring wheelchair tennis.
“This gesture doesn’t end with CBN Open, every other major championship which will take place in the country this year will also feature wheelchair tennis. We believe this is the only way we can develop the sport in the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s top wheelchair tennis player, Alex Adewale has lauded the latest efforts of the federation to give players playing times. Like Oliver Twist, he wants the NTF to do more by including wheelchair tennis in next year’s National Sports Festival.
“This is good news, but I’ll like the federation to do more for us by including the game in the sports festival,” Wasiu said.
Also reacting to the new development, assistant national coach of the wheelchair tennis team, Kayode Savage he would wait till April when the CBN Open is staged before he believes the news.
He said: “It’s a fantastic idea and timely if you consider the fact that the World Team Cup is fast approaching. Having said that, I’ll only wait for that time when this whole thing will materialise before I know what to say.”
—Damilare Okunola