Nigeria will be part of the history makers as her representatives join other African athletes at the first-ever ITF/CAT 12 and Under African Junior Championship which served off Sunday in Casablanca, Morocco.
The Nigerian contingent comprising of Iye Onoja, Oiza Yakubu and Serena Teluwo, sealed their places in the week-long team event at the West and Central African qualifiers in Lagos in April alongside Benin Republic, and are scheduled to confront the ITF team Sunday evening in their opening round-robin matches.
 |
| Serena will be one of the players to watch out for at the tournament. |
The team departed Lagos via Morocco Air at the weekend and coach Margaret Olagundoye expressed confidence that the girls will do well at the event which will feature 10 nations.
“This is a new concept from the ITF designed at fast-tracking the young talents. Our team is very young but we are hopeful of having a very good outing,” said Olagundoye, a former Nigeria International.
While Onoja and Yakubu have been under vigorous training, the tournament will serve as a big test for Teluwo who as part of preparation went on a three week training programme in London last month.
The 10-year-old daughter of former VIP of Lagos FC owner, Adewale Teluwo also recently in Lagos had a two week training with top Spanish junior coach, Jose Velasco, who is now the head coach of Saudi Arabia junior tennis, as part of build up for her first international tournament outside Nigeria.