Nigerian Tennis icon, Nduka Odizor says there is need to
take the country’s grassroots sports development program to a higher pedestal
if Nigeria is to compete favorably with its international counterparts in
future...
Odizor Odizor stated this in Asaba while briefing journalists ahead of
the five-day Delta Summer Tennis Clinic organized by the Ministry of Basic and
Secondary Education in conjunction with the State Tennis Association and the
Duke Odizor International Tennis Foundation. Odizor said he was in the country
to discover young talents in tennis who would fly Nigeria’s flag in future
tennis tournaments. He asserted that the Tennis Clinic which would hold twice
or four times yearly was aimed at encouraging young people to take up tennis
especially as the nation had lacked a top player since he left the scene in the
early 90s after being ranked 52 in the world in 1984. Odizor who won a singles
title and seven doubles title in his career as well as helping Nigeria win
several Davis Cup matches in the past said the Tennis Clinic would expand with
Tennis centres expected to be built in Local Government Headquarters in the
State to aid the development of the game in the state. The State Commissioner
Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Chiedu Ebie, represented by the Permanent
Secretary in the Ministry, Mr David Onekpe as well as the Chairman of the Delta
State Sports Commission, Chief Tonobok Okowa represented by the Director
General in the Commission, Mr Victor Onogagamue gave an assurance that the
program would become a part of the State’s education calendar because Physical
and Health Education will become a compulsory subject from this term. The
Chairman South-South Nigeria Tennis Federation, Honourable Patrick Obahiagbon
and the Chairman Delta State Tennis Association, Mr Karo Ilolo, commended the
State Governments’ support for the programme. He urged the private sector to
partner with the State government in taking the game of Tennis to the
grassroots as well as ensuring its sustainability. The Delta Summer Tennis
Clinic which is expected to smash off tomorrow at the quash and Leisure Court,
Government House, Asaba will see children between the ages of three and fifteen
participating with about two hundred children already registered out of the two
hundred and fifty expected to register.
No comments: