The International Tennis Academy (ITA), organiser of the NCC Tennis League, has that the finals of the competition coming up on Friday and Saturday, 4 and 5 December at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, will be “the most spectator friendly event ever organised in Nigeria.”
Godwin Kienka, director of the ITA, who worked for several years with the International Tennis Federation running Davis Cup events, said: “the finals will not only be spectator friendly but it will also match the world Davis Cup event in passion from the teams and the atmosphere that will be created.”
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| Mr Kienka addressing some of the players and coach during the launch of the competition in Lagos early this year. |
Incidentally, the World Davis Cup Finals between Belgium and Great Britain comes up this weekend.
Mr Kienka said there will be lunch and refreshment for all spectators on Friday and Saturday as well as a raffle draw for smart phones and other gift items.
According to him, “It will be Christmas come too early for some spectators.”
The Finals between the Owerri-based Team Civil Defence and Team Tombim of Abuja will start 10 am on Friday with two men’s singles, a ladies’ singles and the men’s doubles.
The match will be concluded on Saturday, starting 10 am, with the reverse men’s singles and the mixed doubles.
The formal closing and presentation ceremonies are scheduled to start at 1 pm.
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| Nigeria’s number one tennis player, Clifford Enosoregbe is one of the players expected at the finals of the tournament in Lagos |
Team Civil Defence has current national No.1 Clifford Enosoregbe, Shehu Lawal, Babalola Abdulmumuni, Nonso Madueke and Christie Agugbom, the female champion as their star players while Team Tombim parades Lagos Governor’s Cup defending champion Moses Michael, Christian Paul, Henry Atseye and ladies’ No.2 Sarah Adegoke.
The teams are playing for a total prize money of N11 million with the star prize of N5 million going to the champion team.
The championship match will be preceded by the third place match between Team Kalotari of Port Harcourt and Team Ogun from Abeokuta Starting 10 am on Wednesday and Thursday December 2 -3 at the same venue.