Nigerian tennis stars brace up for Governor’s Cup

The 2014 edition is invitational and would feature only the best tennis players on the African continent.A  release from the Nigerian Tennis Federation showed that  the players to watch in the male category of the event are Africa’s number three ranked player from Egypt, Mohammed Safwat, Sabry Sherif, Garanganga Takanyi from Zimbabwe and a former […]

The 2014 edition is invitational and would feature only the best tennis players on the African continent.
A  release from the Nigerian Tennis Federation showed that  the players to watch in the male category of the event are Africa’s number three ranked player from Egypt, Mohammed Safwat, Sabry Sherif, Garanganga Takanyi from Zimbabwe and a former winner of the Governor’s Cup, South Africa’s Ruan Roelofse.
In the female category, are former stars of the championship, including Africa’s top ranked star and former champion, South Africa’s Chanelle Sheepers, her compatriot, Simmond Channel, and Madagascar’s Razafimhatratra Zarah.
Leading Nigeria’s challenge are Clifford Enosoregbe, Abdulmumuni Babalola, Atseye Henry, Shehu Lawal and Otu John, among others. In the female category the nation will be represented by Sarah Adegoke, Samuel Blessing, Agugbom Christine, Akingbade Ronke and upcoming star, Elizabeth Pam.
In all at least  64 players are listed to take part in the championship which the Lagos Lawn Tennis club through its Chairman, Barrister Sam Egbuchunam has said it is ever ready to host. He said apart from the playing surfaces of the courts which need to be renovated, all other facilities are intact.
Although it promises to be another tough challenge, most of the Nigerian players listed for the championship have expressed readiness to take on opponents from within and outside Nigeria.
They were unanimous that even as they are faced with different hurdles, their opponents who boast of superior credentials in terms of exposure to tournaments in and outside Africa would not scare them one bit.
Nigerian female tennis star, Ronke Akingbade who told SHOT! that she is enjoying so much support from her husband, said she is ready to play her fifth Governor’s Cup tournament.
“I am as ready as ever to play in the championship. I have been training hard and I can tell you confidently that I am in the right shape. I will be playing in the championship for the fifth time and I hope to win this time.
“My target is not just to play in the finals but to lift the trophy. My coach and I have been working really hard and I am ready to take on any opponent, whether local or international,” she said.
Her compatriot Adegoke Sarah who is based in Ibadan spoke in a similar vein as she said she had relocated to Lagos to prepare for the championship.
“As I speak to you, I have moved into Lagos from Ibadan where I have been training hard for the championship. I have won lots of tournaments but I am yet to win the Governor’s Cup so this is the right time for me to clinch it.
“The only challenge I have is that of sponsorship but I thank my father who has been there for me. He is my main sponsor. I want to call on the corporate organisations to sponsor tennis. Everything revolves round football and this is not helping some of us who are talented in other sports.
On his part, Nigeria’s number one male tennis player and Champion of 2014 Dalla Hardcourt, Clifford Enosoregbe also said he is working hard to win his first Governor’s Cup title.
“I am preparing really hard for the tournament because I will be coming up against some of the best tennis players on the continent. Some of these guys are not new to me. I have played against them before so I know what to expect.
“If I win my first Governor’s Cup title, I will be happy but for now, I just want to get out there and enjoy myself”.
Nonso Madueke who will be making his third appearance in the championship said there is no easy tournament in the world so he is looking forward to meeting very strong opponents.
“This is going to be my third attempt so my target is to win the trophy. There is no easy tournament anywhere so this one too is not an expectation. This very edition is going to be very tough because it is invitational and only the best on the continent will be taking part.
“I am ready to take on any opponent that will come my way. I have the problem of sponsorship but it is not peculiar to me. Most tennis players in Nigeria do not have sponsors. Many have dropped out of the game because they did not have sponsorship to attend even local tournaments”.
Omoile Samuel said “I am trying my best to get ready for the championship. I will be making my fourth appearance and I hope to improve on my past performances.
“I am going to sponsor myself and this is not going to be easy but I have to try and shoulder the responsibility. I hope that one day, help in the area of sponsorship would come the way of Nigerian tennis players”.
Abuja based Christian Paul also said he is not in any way intimidated by some of the big names that would be on parade at the championship.
“There is really nothing to be afraid of because I have played some of these guys. I am also confident that Nigeria will be well represented. We shall do our best to be worthy ambassadors of the nation.
He, however, raised concern over the welfare package being arranged for players. “We are yet to confirm the details but from what we have heard, we are not going to be accommodated and we shall take care of our feeding and equipment, yet the organisers are said to be planning to pay N10,000 a day. We hope to thrash out some of these issues before the commencement of the competition,” he said.