The Nigerian trio of Ohunene Yakubu, Khadijat Mohammed and Ndidi Osaji will be hoisting the country’s flag at the fast approaching Junior Tennis Championship in Morocco.
The youngsters earned the rights to represent Nigeria after emerging victorious at the U-14 category of the World Junior Championships Qualifiers for West & Central Africa which was recently concluded in Lome, Togo.
Nigeria Tennis Live gathered that the National Junior Tennis Coach, Ubale Mohammed, was highly impressed by the players’ performance after securing Nigeria’s passage to the competition in Morocco.
The three youngsters have been in impressive forms all season, as they have put up impressive performances in the various competitions they’ve participated in.
Ohunene was one of the youngsters at the Rainoil Tennis Open Championships which was held in Lagos last year, while also emerging as the most outstanding player at the Sapetro competition, where Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, was in attendance.
Also, Khadijat remains Nigeria’s undisputed National U-14 champion, winning every tournament with sheer finesse and class, and earning lots of accolades in the process.
At the Azimuth Shipping Lines Junior Tennis Championship in Lagos, the Abuja-based lanky player scooped the title in two age categories.
The youngest of the trio, Ndidi, is also arguably the best in her category, after her recent triumphs, the latest being her performance at the Azimuth and Sapetro competitions.
She has also won the FAAN Championship, and emerged winner of the girls 12 & Unders at the SNEPCo/NNPC Competition in Portharcourt, Rivers State.
Coach Ubale noted that based on what he has seen of the girls’ performances, they are most likely to represent Nigeria in Morocco.
“You know it’s a team competition, so, we always have to travel with the team.
“By the grace of God, we should be traveling to Morocco with the same players that got us there, and believe that we will make the country proud,” the well-traveled coach informed our correspondent.
Nigeria Tennis Live is yet to ascertain the date for the tournament in Morocco, but will inform our ardent readers as soon as the information is made known.