Damilare Okunola
Nigerian wheelchair tennis players have called for early preparations ahead of the African Championship which holds in Kenya next year.
The players said that they wouldn’t like a repeat of what happened last year when some of their female counterparts were dropped partly due to insufficient funds for the trip.
According to team captain of the physically challenged players, Lateef Shodipo, “we really want the Federation to wade in as quickly as possible to avoid a repeat of what happened last year.
“Other disabled sports get virtually all that they want so I believe that we should also get what we require to participate at the Championship”.
“It is our desire to have twelve players on board; six male and six female so that we can present a strong contingent at the tourney” he added in an exclusive chat with Naija Tennis Special.
In a related development, pre-tournament favourite, Wasiu Yusuf, believes that the absence of South Africa in the tourney-which is also a qualifier for the World Team Cup-will ensure that there are no strong rivals for the country.
“This is our best chance of qualifying for the world team cup” he said.
Yusuf further stated that, “The South Africans will not play the qualifiers so, I am sure that our ladies will pick the ticket but we cannot do so if we don’t start preparations early enough”.
The Nigerian players, who could not make any strong impact at the world team cup in Antalya, Turkey last year, will be hoping for a better fortune this year.
In a related development, pre-tournament favourite, Wasiu Yusuf, believes that the absence of South Africa in the tourney-which is also a qualifier for the World Team Cup-will ensure that there are no strong rivals for the country.
“This is our best chance of qualifying for the world team cup” he said.
Yusuf further stated that, “The South Africans will not play the qualifiers so, I am sure that our ladies will pick the ticket but we cannot do so if we don’t start preparations early enough”.
The Nigerian players, who could not make any strong impact at the world team cup in Antalya, Turkey last year, will be hoping for a better fortune this year.