Nigeria’s prodigious junior tennis talent, Marylove Edwards, will be playing what effectively will be her farewell match in Nigeria in the NCC Tennis League tie between Lagos based Team CBN Features and Team Ndoma- Egba of Abuja taking place at the National Stadium, Lagos tennis courts on Saturday.
Edwards, the national 14 & under champion who got to the finals of the CBN Senior Championships two months ago, will be leaving for America this month to begin what would effectively be her pro tennis sojourn with the famous Nick Bolletieri Tennis Academy.
In a chat with Naija Tennis Special, however, Koye Sowemimo, the Sports Director at the Temple Management Company, Koye Sowemimo, stated that the deal cannot be confirmed until the player has successfully arrived at the academy to kickstart her ‘romance’ with the American territory. “Right now, we cannot confirm anything because MaryLove is yet to land in the United States. Until everything is confirmed, I cannot make any comment on the trip,” he told our correspondent in Lagos.
Edwards plays for the CBN Futures and will be showcasing her talent against highly rated Aanu Ayegbusi of the Abuja-based team.
MaryLove is expected to leave for the Nick Bolletieri Tennis Academy in the United States any moment from now.
Although Team Ndoma-Egba are making their debut in the League, they have a formidable line up that includes two former champions – Thomas Otu and Sunday Maku – and Mohammed Mohammed who is currently in the top 10 of the NCC Rankings.
Two other tennis league matches will take place in Ado Ekiti and Jos.
In Ado Ekiti where Team Yetade will be hosting Team Goshen of Ilorin in an evenly poised tie, the ladies singles between top 10 player Patience Onebamhoin of Goshen and fast rising junior Molade Bamidele, a quarterfinalist at the CBN Seniors, has the potential to be the star match of the tie.
The tie will take place at the Fountain hotel tennis courts inside the Trade Fair Complex.
In Jos, defending champions Team Offikwu parading national champions Sylvester Emmanuel and Sarah Adegoke will be taking on newcomers Team Tech Vibe at the Elim Sports Club.
“It is going to be a great weekend for tennis and we shall use the opportunity of the Lagos tie to send-forth our future world star Marylove Edwards. We hope that tennis fans and stakeholders will come and watch the matches and bid her farewell, in all the senses of that word, with a prayer and a package,” Godwin Kienka, director of the International Tennis Academy which coordinates the league, said.
Kienka added: “We are going to make it fun for everyone with refreshments, take- away gifts and some raffle draws.”
Each tie is made up of two men’s singles, one ladies singles and a men’s doubles on Saturday and two men’s reverse singles and one mixed doubles on Sunday.
