By Tunmise Omosofe
No fewer than 300 players gathered in Lagos as the Adewale Isa Foundation flagged off its 7th annual Tennis Tournament.
The week-long tournament which started on Monday at the Mainland Tennis Club, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, runs from Aug. 31 to Sept. 5.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tournament is in honour of Adewale Isa, a former tennis coach.
NAN also reports that the event is part of the foundation’s continued efforts to promote sports development, nurture young talent, and encourage active youth participation in tennis.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nurudeen Isa, Director of the foundation, said the initiative was established to immortalise the legacy of his late father.
Isa said his father was a renowned tennis coach and Nigeria’s first Olympic tennis coach when the sport was introduced at the Olympics in 1984.
He said his father produced several notable players, including Sadiq Abdullahi, Yakubu Suleiman and Sanni Suleiman, adding that he was also one of his products.
Isa said the foundation first staged the tournament at the regional level before expanding it nationwide and moving it to Lagos in 2022.
According to him, the initiative had also expanded beyond tennis, with winners in the U-12 boys’ and girls’ categories, giving opportunities for training tours in the U.S.
He said the foundation also introduced educational scholarships this year for SS2 and SS3 students.
Isa said the scholarship reflected his father’s belief that young athletes should combine sports with education.
He identified Seun Ogunsakin, Chukwudubem Amasiani and Mofilola Atilola among players who had progressed through the tournament.
Isa said inadequate equipment and facilities remained major challenges, adding that the foundation provided tennis equipment to winners, instead of cash prizes.
He said the initiative also supported other participants based on identified needs and available resources.
He described it as an opportunity to test their skills, gain experience and improve their performance.
Also speaking, Sikirat Isa-Adigun, Chairperson of the foundation, said tennis was central to her father’s life and his greatest passion.
Isa-Adigun, who is the eldest daughter of the late Isa, said the initiative was established to preserve his legacy.
She noted that her father was Nigeria’s only individual to have coached at the Olympics, adding that the foundation aimed to inspire young players to surpass his achievements.
Isa-Adigun also identified inadequate funding and support as major challenges facing young tennis players in the country.
According to her, the foundation has positively impacted participants by building friendships, self-esteem and hope among young players.
She added that the foundation also aimed at expanding its reach and provide opportunities for more children across the country.
According to her, the foundation’s long-term goal is to produce champions capable of achieving feats similar to Serena Williams and Ashleigh Barty.
Meanwhile, the young players had expressed excitement about participating in the tournament.
In the girls’ U-12 match, Christian Adeyeye defeated Darasimi Uduyeye with the winning scores of 4-1, 4-1.
In another encounter, Lucia Sadiku defeated Destiny Ajala with winning scores of 4-0, 4-0.
Grace Oritingben on the other hand, played against Wuraola Mogbonjubola, with scores of 4-0, 4-0.
Also, following the other set of U- 12 girls’, Joshua Ayebaife defeated Roimot Akindele with scores of 5-3, 4-0.(NAN)
Edited by Chinyere Nwachukwu