Team Oluyole of Ibadan today in Lagos got the 12th spot of the NCC Tennis League by
beating Team Anambra 3-1 to secure the two points they needed to win the playoff event.
Team Oluyole, joining the league for the first time, edged Team Police College of Ikeja 3-2 Thursday with the mixed doubles match deciding the tie.
The Ibadan team which will be hosting their home ties at the Adamasingba Stadium will be playing in the tougher Blue Group which has three seeded teams.
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| Joseph Imeh of Team Muller will be one of the hard nuts for newly-promoted Team Oluyole to crack. |
Team Kalatori (Port Harcourt), the top team of the group has three top 10 players – Christian Paul, Emmanuel Sunday and Blessing Samuel as the lead players – while Team Civil Defence (Abuja), winners of the 2015 edition, has Babalola Abdulmumuni, Clifford Enosoregbe and Christie Agugbom playing for them.
The third team, Team Muller (Lagos), has two top 10 players – Joseph Imeh and Ronke Akingbade – as well as doubles maestro Monday Igbinovia on parade.
Team Oluyole certainly have their work cut out for them but team captain, Ibrahim Wasiu,
said: “We are just happy to qualify for the League and be a part of this event which is the best thing to happen to Nigerian tennis.
“We are aware there are many strong teams in our group so we plan to recruit some good players, who are not already committed, to strengthen our squad.”
Team Oluyole has also now qualified to get the N500, 000 logistics support which is available to the 12 teams.
The main event serves us next weekend in Abuja with an opening tie between Team Civil Defence and Team Muller.