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| Emmanuel, popularly called Major wants to reach the semis of the tourney |
Reports reaching Naija Tennis Special from some players in the northern part of Nigeria, have it that many of them have confirmed their participation at the fast approaching Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Invitational Championship.
The players who spoke with our correspondent, expressed their readiness for the annual Etisalat Nigeria/ FCMB Sponsored tournament, as they prepare to play a pre-tournament warm up in Abuja.
Shehu Lawal, a veteran of the tournament, stated that, “we shall be having a tournament in Abuja this week to liven up the tennis arena and also prepare for the Governor’s Cup. It is like an invitational tournament as well, but for players based in the North majorly.
“I will surely play at the Governor’s Cup and while we will not be having more foreign players this time around, competition for top places are expected to remain the same.
“I shall try my best to come out tops, that is my aim for the tournament.”
Sylvester Emmanuel, the Nigerian teenage sensation, who will be playing in the tournament for the first time, is also seeking to outshine his more fancied superiors.
In fact, Emmanuel has set a Semi-final target for himself, a feat he believes so well that he can achieve.
The player, who also represented Nigeria at the Davis Cup earlier this year in Egypt, hopes to make a mark when the tournament serves off at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos on Monday, 17 November, 2014.
“I am training really hard for this tournament especially since it is the first time I’d be participating in it.
“I was in Abuja for the warm up and pre-tournament invitational just for players in the Northern region and will soon be in Lagos
“The target is to get to the semis, then God can decide what happens next. But I have to make it to the semis of the competition to think that I have played well,” the youngster stated.
Information from the Secretariat of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF also has it that players have continued signifying their interests in participating in the tournament which will end on Saturday, 22 November, 2014.
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