NTF President ‘Lowkey’ Starts Prep For High Performance Centre As ITF Coach Storms Nigeria For Week-long Training
Engr. Dayo Akindoju, the president of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), has revealed his desire to have a High Performance Centre in Nigeria as soon as possible.
In an exclusive chat with Nigeria Tennis Live on Monday morning, Akindoju explained that there would be a training session of coaches, tennis youngsters and sponsors sometime in March, as the federation awaits the arrival of an ITF Coach to the country.
Engr. Dayo Akindoju, the President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), is eyeing the construction of a High Performance Centre in Nigeria.
He explained that this week-long training is targeted at exposing such ITF officials to the talents – the coaches and players – that abound in the country, which will in turn help convince them of the need for a High Performance Centre in the country.
According to him: “We have received a confirmation from the ITF that one of their coaches will arrive on the 10th of March and I’ll really love to take him round Abuja and try to have him visit Lagos too, to see how much we can do in tennis.
“When he comes, his mission will be to have sessions with the coaches, the kids and even sponsors. But my desire is that the ITF sees how much quality we have to deserve a High Performance Centre in the country.”
Asked if the training would be held in the Federal Capital or elsewhere (say like Lagos), he explained that: “I honestly wish we could take him to both centres, but we have not come up with the plan just yet.
“But we shall soon finalise that and make the information available on the official website of the NTF.”
Recall that Abdulmumin Babalola, the legendary Nigerian tennis superstar, had clamoured for the construction of a High Performance Centre in the country, which he believes will aid the development of tennis in the country.
Babalola, who coached the national U-12 team to Cotonou, Benin Republic for the AJC qualifiers, had mentioned that with the Centre in the country, there will not be a dearth of quality youngsters.
Nigeria Tennis Live will keep tabs with the NTF website updates and share such information with our followers who are scattered across all parts of the world.
