Ronke Akingbade, winner of the CBN Senior Championship ladies’ singles in 2013, has said it would be very sad if her team, Team Ogun loses the third place match against Team Kalotari.
Akingbade, speaking after a training session today at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, venue of the encounter, said: “We came very close to beating Team Civil Defence in Enugu. In fact I do not know what happened with those last two points.
“We should actually be playing the finals against Team Tombim so we cannot afford to lose the third place match.”
The third place match against Team Kalotari of Port Harcourt is scheduled to start at 10 am on Wednesday 2 December and Thursday 3 December at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos.
Akingbade, now ranked sixth in the country following an early round loss at the Dala Hard Courts in Kano last week, said she was working hard to ensure that she contributes two points to the cause of the Ogun team.
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| Ronke Akingbade receiving instructions from Monday Igbinovia |
“I know I have a tough match against Aanu Ayegbusi who beat me in Kano and is now No. 3 in Nigeria but I am happy I have a chance to play her again and revenge that loss. I am also sure we would not make the mistake we made in the mixed doubles in that semifinal match,” the beautiful Ronke said.
While Akingbade who started her tennis at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club is optimistic that Team Ogun would win the third place match, many others believe that Team Kalotari, whose players have moved up the national rankings should have the upperhand.
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| Emmanuel Sylvester and Sunday Maku during one of their matches. |
Thomas Otu, winner of the CBN Senior Championships and runner-up at the Dala Hard Courts in Kano is now the No.1 player in Nigeria. Sylvester Emmanuel who beat his team mate, Otu, in the Dala finals is now the third ranked player and they will be supported by Sunday Maku, a celebrated doubles expert who won the doubles titles at the two senior tournaments pairing Albert Bikom.
The third place match will no doubt be a sweet starter for the main course – the championship match between Team Tombim and Team Civil Defence coming up 10 am on Friday 4 December and Saturday 5 December at the same venue.