Talented Roseline Nana has emerged as the undisputed champion of the Lagos Schools’ Tennis Championship held inside the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos.
The 9-year-old player who is being trained by the Kay-Kay Tennis Academy was outstanding in her matches as she defeated her rival, Mofifunoluwa Atilola twice, to emerge as a double champion at the tournament sponsored by the Allison & Oluremi Ayida Foundation.
Both players, outstanding throughout the competition, reached the finals of two different age categories, the Girls U-10 and U-14 events, in a repeat of their clash at the FAAN Junior Tennis Championship in Ikeja, Lagos few months ago.
Nana defeated Atilola in the Girls U-10 finals before fighting back from a set down to defeat the same opponent to clinch the Girls U-14 title a few hours later.
In the other categories, Destiny Okhinaye came out clutch against her friend, Blessing Otu, in the Girls U-18 final, where she came down from a set down to take the competition in a final set affair.
The match which appeared drab for minutes after Otu had taken the first set 4-2 suddenly sprang to life when Okhinaye raced to a 4-1 lead in the second set and eventually forced her opponent to retire while leading 6-1 in the tie break decider for the short sets encounter.
The Lord Rumens Centre Court played host to the boys 18 finale which was another spectacle for the spectators who watched and cheered on.
Ajao Basit and Taofik Mogaji, both Lagos Lawn Tennis Club boys, slugged it out in the Boys U-18 finals with former emerging victorious after delivering some sumptuous tennis on the day.
Other winners in the competition include Oyo State’s Onyekachi Ogumjiofor who defeated David Edwards in the Boys U-14 while Michael Osagie was the better player when he squared up against Mohamed Okandeji in the Boys U-10 final.
Speaking on behalf of the Allison & Oluremi Ayida Foundation, Laolu Akerele was full of admiration for the players as well as the level of competition which he believes is just a springboard for even greater things to come.
During an interview with journalists after the event, he said: “This was a really beautiful competition, and you could see how competitive the kids were out there.
“Rose was particularly outstanding, I watched her play against Mofifun and I saw that these young girls have what it takes to compete if they keep getting tournaments like this.
“We are really grateful to be able to put together this tournament and the Foundation is delighted with the outcome and the turnout of people out here today. It was a really good time we had.”
Kome Otobo, the first grandchild of Allison and Oluremi Ayida, was also full of praise for the attendees, and stated that the standards reached were synonymous to what her granddad would have loved to see, especially with the unveiling of the pavilion.
“The feeling in the family right now is that of excitement for what we have been able to put together for these players and to aid their tennis development in our little way.”
Leave a comment