No matter the outcome of their match against either Civil Defence or Team Offikwu, Lagos-based Team Muller has a minimum of N5million after their qualification for the final match of the ongoing NCC Tennis League, Nigerian Tennis Live can authoritatively report.
The Joseph Imeh led Muller, in their semifinal match, overran fellow debutantes Team Ndoma -Egba of Abuja 5-2 at the Enugu Sports Club over the weekend where they won all Men’s Singles matches quite easily.
Imeh opened scores by overpowering a much improved Paul Emmanuel 6-4, 6-4 in the first men’s singles match and Emmanuel Idoko, surprisingly, easily defeated former national champion Thomas Otu 6-2, 6-2.
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| Proud Imeh and his teammates are guaranteed a minimum of N5million after reaching the finals of the NCC Tennis League. |
Aanu Aiyegbusi pulled one back for the Abuja based team when she beat Ronke Akingbade 7-5, 6-1 in the ladies’ singles but the hope of Team Ndoma-Egba dimmed when the pair of Imeh and Mohammed Mohammed defeated Sunday Maku and Otu 6-3, 6-4 to in the men’s doubles to stretch the lead to 3-1 at the end of the first day’s proceedings.
Team Ndoma-Egba’s Paul Emmanuel fought hard to keep the tie alive in the first reverse singles against a wily Idoko but could not sustain the momentum that saw him win the first set as his opponent crept back to win 1-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Idoko’s win effectively put the tie beyond the reach of Team Ndoma Egba which conceded the second reverse singles but fought to win the mixed doubles with the pair of Osareme Airhunwhunde and Taye Owolabi edging Mohammed and Deborah Gbadamosi 4-6, 6-2, 14 – 12.
The second semifinals between defending champions, Team Offikwu of Kaduna and Team Civil Defence of Abuja will take place in Abuja on 2 December and 3 December.
The NCC Tennis League which is now at the ‘business end’ featured 12 teams playing across 12 cities for a total cash prize of N23 million. The champions get N7 million, runners-up N5 million, third place N3 million and fourth place N2 million.