Abdul Idi, a US-based tennis coach has offered to conduct free tennis lessons to junior tennis players in troubled Calabar after a recent outburst by some tennis players.
Nigeria Tennis Live had on Wednesday, 4 December, posted a SOS article from some Calabar, Cross River-based tennis players who asked the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) to help revive tennis in their state.
The players noted that tennis was nearing extinction in the state following the disbandment of sports associations in the state.
But in a swift reaction to the post, Coach Idi who’s renown for organizing free tennis coaching clinic to Nigerian players, has offered to replicate same gesture for the Calabar-based players.
Under the post on the Facebook page, the Bradenton, Florida-based coach wrote: “It’s time to help develop our beautiful Lifetime sport in Calabar.
“National exhibition between home & foreign base could be a start.
“Some of us can conduct free tennis clinics to the future generations.”
In a further conversation with our correspondent, he noted that organizing the free coaching clinic was his way of giving back to the society.
“It will be nice if they can organize & promote the game in Calabar.
“Anytime I visit Nigeria, I try and give back by conducting free lessons to juniors because the game has been wonderful to my family,” he explained.
On the modalities for how the training programme would take place, he noted that the organizers don’t particularly need to pay him.
According to the US-based tennis coach: “If they can organize and invite us it will be wonderful.
“They don’t have to pay us cash but arrange transportation & we can pay for accommodation.”
Nigeria Tennis Live will monitor events that follow and keep our followers updated.
Port Harcourt is calling, baba Idi. We look forward to having you around soon sir.