While the ITF Futures 1-3 is going on in Abuja, the nation’s federal capital, Lagos will be treated to some top class tennis action as the inaugural edition of the Zenith Bank “Next Generation” debuts on Tuesday, 24 April, 2018.
Information made available to Nigerian Tennis Live has it that the Junior Tennis Masters will be held at the National Stadium Surulere tennis centre, with top eight players 18 years and under for both boys and girls.
The likes of Oyinlomo Quadri, Oiza Yakubu, Gabriel Friday, among others, are expected to slug it out for honours at the inaugural event on Tuesday, as Nigeria gets set to witness another birth of future stars.
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| Gabriel Friday is one of Nigeria’s fast rising youngsters in the game. |
“All the players are in town for the Masters while others who missed the mark are asking to be included. A Masters is a Masters and only the best, based on their performance in the last one year, can qualify,” Godwin Kienka, director of the International Tennis Academy, organisers of the tournament, informed.
He added also that, “That’s actually the whole idea. The juniors are going to take their training much more seriously and work really hard to qualify next year. There is no doubt that this tournament will help fast track the development process.”
The eight boys invited for the Masters are: Michael Oshewa Boy’s 18 champion, Godgift Timibra, Stephen Augustine, Tochukwu Ezeh, Michael Ayoola, Emma Jebutu, Philip Abayomi and Gabriel Friday winner of the Boy’s 16 title at the CBN Junior Championship. Mathew Abamu the runner-up will standby as the alternate.
To slug it out in the girl’s category are: Oyin Quadre semifinalist at the African Junior Championship Girl’s 16, Favour Moses winner CBN Junior Championship, Omolade Aderemi, Omolayo Bamidele, Toyin Asogba, Kasara Adegboyega, Mariam Alli-Balogun, and Rebecca Ekpeyong. Oiza Yakubu, winner of the Girl’s 14 event at the CBn Juniors will serve as alternate.
The tournament, according to the organisers, will have the players divided into two round robin groups of four with the top two finishers playing a cross semifinals.
Matches start at 10 am each day including the finals on Saturday at the same venue.