Nigeria’s National Tennis Coach and Technical Director, Nigeria Tennis Federation, Rotimi Akinloye, has identified a lack of sponsorship for tennis programs as a major challenge facing the sports in the country.
Coach Akinloye made this known in an interview with journalists during the just concluded 2-day workshop tagged, “Modern Day Tennis Coaching,” organized by the Ogun State Tennis Association in conjunction with Southlake Tennis Centre, Texas.
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The workshop, which took place at the green court, (tennis section) of the Abeokuta Sports Club, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital attracted tennis coaches across the state, with Coach Rotimi Akinloye as the lead instructor and Wole Festus Akinyeju, Director, Southlake Tennis Centre, as facilitator.
“We hope the coaches will apply the new knowledge but i believe it will have a positive impact on their tennis lives,” Akinloye said.
To take tennis to the next level, Coach Akinloye said the present situation calls for sponsorship of tennis tournaments.
“I use this medium to appeal to Nigerian governments and critical stakeholders, particularly corporate bodies, and multinationals to sponsor tennis because we have an array of talents in the country.
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Tennis is a capital intensive sports that need a lot of funds to actualize training, programs, tournaments, travels, and If sponsors are available, it would aid sustained programs at least for 10 years and there would be appreciable impacts in terms of rankings, production of players, as well as growth and development of tennis in the country.”
The facilitator, Mr. Akinyeju maintained that the impact of the workshop was going to be positive, at least with time. “I decided to return home to give back to the community that made me and contribute to the growth of tennis in Nigeria.
“What you tell players will make or mar them, so coaches must be up to date with new methodologies, both technically and tactically as well as be ready to exchange ideas to be able to transfer the right knowledge to the players.” He said.
“Again, in tennis, programs, and sponsorship drive growth. Without it, there is nothing anyone can achieve in tennis. it is very important to have a series of programs that would attract corporate sponsors, through which players can be developed.” Akinyeju added.
Coach Kehinde Ijaola, the Ogun State Tennis Coach and a former tennis coach in the state, Kehinde Martins-Ake said the workshop was the way to go which if sustained, would help identify talented players in Ogun State particularly as the state prepares to host National Sports Festival.
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According to them, the workshop has achieved impartation of techniques and match place situations, which are crucial to developing players across all levels for local, state, national, and international engagements.
Participants appreciated the organizers for the opportunity. They promised to draw workable plans that would assist them in transferring the knowledge to their players in series.
High points of the workshop were the presentation of awards to deserving individuals who have contributed to the development of tennis in the state and certificates to all the coaches who participated.
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