Over 100 tennis players from 10 States across the federation are currently at the Adejumo Tennis Complex in Ejigbo, Lagos, for the 2nd Gbolahan Odele Junior Tennis Championship.
Nigeria Tennis Live reports that the players will be participating in Boys and Girls U-12, 14 & 16 categories during the week-long event which served off on Monday, 19 August, 2024.
Checks revealed that players from Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Cross River, Bayelsa, FCT, Benue, Osun, Lagos and Ekiti States are participating in the age-grade competition which is targeted at producing future talents for Nigeria.
Players will play against each other in a round robin format as a way of giving them opportunities to play as many games as possible and have a chance at reaching the next phase of the competition.
Nigeria Tennis Live gathered that daily transportation to and from the hotel, feeding and other logistics are being taken care of for the players and their coaches who are with them at the event.
Chief Gbolahan Odele, the sponsor of the competition, noted that there are chances to expand the tournament having hosted the first edition at the Police College in Ikeja, Lagos.
He revealed, during a chat with Nigeria Tennis Live, that “you have to realise that my family is sponsoring this on a personal level.
“It’s a very expensive proposition today, it’s not an easy thing to do, but we’re able to do this by the grace of God. It is our intent to increase the number of States. However, the more we increase, the more funding we will need.
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“This is a private funding right now. We need corporations to come in and just look at these kids. They are so dedicated and they are interested in doing well.
“For example when we finish this one, I know (the next one) is going to be bigger but we need corporate to help us, one man cannot do it all but one man can start it, and that’s me – I’m starting it.
“It is my goal to see all the 36 States represented but we cannot do it with one man. We need sponsorship, we need the State to come in, we need even private organizations to come and support us so we can get these kids off the streets and get them engaged so they can have a better future. That is our goal and that is my intent”.
The competition which served off on Monday, 19 August, will end on Saturday, 24 August, inside the magnificent Adejumo Tennis Complex in Ejigbo, Lagos State.