Nigeria: Kudos for CBN Junior Tennis Circuit

Daily Independent (Lagos)

25 May 2011

Catching them young, In most parts of the world has not only been well received, but has been put into action as could be seen in the case of the United States of America Williams sisters, Venus and Serena or even British Andy Murray to mention just few.

But sadly enough, it was a different ball game in Nigeria altogether as those who would have been making waves in the game just like their counterparts in other countries keep fizzling out for lack of encouragement. This was the hallmark of Nigeria Tennis until central bank came to rescue.

Having realized that Nigeria as Country has the potential to produce world beaters in Tennis, the CBN decided to sponsor the annual Junior Tennis circuit which has been on for some years now. And by so doing the apex bank has been Championing the course of developing tennis in the country through the sponsorship of the annual CBN Junior circuit which is the bedrock of Nigerian Tennis development.

Apart from sponsoring and orgainsing annual competition for the Junior Tennis kids in Nigeria, CBN has also been involved in ensuring that those who excel in the game locally are allowed to advance their skills in international competitions across the continent .

And for five good years of continuous sponsorship of this tournament, the level of competitive tennis at the junior level in Nigeria has improved tremendously as those involved leave no stone unturned in their quest to win having realized that there lies brighter future ahead since participants are usually positioned for bigger and brighter challenges after each tournament.

In addition to winning prizes, champions and indeed participants at the annual CBN Junior Circuit are usually spoilt with gift items like Tennis Rackets, Balls, Tennis bags, Canvass, Towels and T-shirts among others, that would enhance their training.

Stakeholders of the sport including managers, coaches, umpires and even ball boys who are also beneficiaries of the CBN largesse that follows the championship annually are of the opinion that the CBN is really putting their money where their mouth is .Having applauded the sponsorship of the tournament, the stakeholders prayed that the Junior circuit be allowed to continue more so when the CBN has gone a step further by introducing more benefits into the championship like the international tournament sponsorship.

Above all, the 2011 edition that was held from May 2-8 which is the 5th in the series, did not fall short of expectation considering the fact that over 350 tennis playing kids drawn from both public and private schools across the country featured in the week long exercise where little Oyilomo Quadre and Micheal Oshewa became the toast of Tennis lovers who besieged the Arena to cheer the kids.

Apart from providing an enabling environment for Nigeria Junior Tennis players to exhibit their skills, the programme which is fashioned out in the mode of the Bank of Scotland tournament that produced Andy Murray who is No.4 in the world has been spotted as the major tournament that is discovering future Tennis champions for the Country for the simple facts that products of the circuit have always been representing Nigeria in International competitions.

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