Team CBN Futures made up of the top junior players from the ITA junior circuit won their first men’s singles match since the league started last year against Team Hope at the Shell Club Warri Sunday.
Godgift Timibra, a Boys 16 finalist at the CBN Junior Championship in 2015, beat Joseph Iyonovbe 6-4, 4-6, 10-8 in the second reverse singles. Angel Mcleod had on Saturday beaten Abies Amadasun in the women’s singles to bring the number of wins by the CBN Futures girls to two.
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| Angel McCleod did wonders in her match against Team Hope over the weekend. |
Kayode Savage, coach of the CBN Futures team said the team is growing in confidence and will soon be contending for a semifinal place.
“All our matches were close. In the first singles Saturday Martin Agbamu took the first set before losing 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 to Iyonovbe and in the mixed doubles, Abamu and Toyin Asogba again won the first set but then lost 7- 5, 0-6, 5-10 to Emmanuel Paul and Amadasun. With a little more experience we shall win more matches.” Savage said.
In Abuja, Team Civil Defence sealed their victory against Team FCT winning one reverse singles and the mixed doubles to take the tie 5-2. Next weekend in Kaduna, Team Civil Defence will take on Team Kalotari in the final round robin match for both teams.
Team Lead Way kept their hopes for a semifinal place alive by winning the reverse singles and the mixed doubles on Sunday to end the tie 6-1 against Team Anambra.
Team Anambra travel to Abuja for a mid-week tie against defending champions Team Offikwu Wednesday Nov. 16 and Thursday Nov, 17 while Team Lead Way will play a decisive semifinal place match against Team Offikwu Tuesday Nov. 29 and Wednesday Nov.30 in Kaduna.
“We are at the business end of the round robin phase and the teams are really raising their game and strategies to ensure they qualify for the semifinals. Matches are getting very competitive and the spectatorship is rising at all the venues. The tennis league is really getting more and more exciting.” Godwin Kienka, director of the International Tennis academy which coordinates the competition said.