Alongside Sadiq Abdullahi and Tony Mmoh, Nduka Odizor was one of the Nigerian players who participated at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
Asides being arguably Nigeria’s biggest tennis star, reaching a world ranking of 52 four years prior, Odizor was renowned for his outspoken nature.
And 36 years after that event in Asia, the man fondly referred to as ‘The Duke’ has not forgotten a thing or two about what went down that year.
Nigeria will not be participating in the tennis event at the Paris 2024 Olympics as we were unable to win Men’s/Women’s Singles gold medal at the 2024 African Games, neither do we have any player in the top 400 of world tennis rankings – ATP, WTA.
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Despite the array of talents at the country’s disposal, the most notable of whom are Christopher Bulus and Oyinlomo Quadre, who shone brightly for the country at the African Games and at the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup events respectively, the ‘African Giants’ are yet to be back at the highest level.
A lot of tennis followers still refer to Odizor’s world ranking spot as the peak of tennis in Nigeria and mostly remember the West African nation for the exploits of the former world no. 20 Doubles player.
And as the tennis event of the Paris 2024 Olympics is about to take centre stage, Nigeria Tennis Live reached out to the tennis legend to ask how he feels about Nigeria’s non-participation at the event.
“The fundamental and root of Nigerian tennis is rotten and needs to be refracted. The problem is systemic and needs to be readdressed. For example, we need to reestablish grassroots tennis in all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, but this costs money.
“A proper thought and planning needs to take place as to how and where to raise the money. Have you heard or seen any business plan or blueprint for the Nigerian tennis federation (of course not) because there’s none,” he started the chat in his usual no-holds-barred manner.
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Continuing, he said: “There should be such plan for two reasons (1) transparency (2) for all stakeholders to follow and help carry the load. Whatever plans they have will not work with funding from the government and private sector”.
Odizor who notably reached the quarterfinal of the 1983 US Open event, relived the memory of representing Nigeria at the Games, even though it was not as pleasant.
According to him: “The memory and joy was in representing Nigeria. But I didn’t enjoy it at all because of the athletes protests, which I spearheaded for lack of esta-code allowance payments.
“The big ogas refused to pay the athletes after their training camps in Nigeria and they also refused to pay them after the All African Games.
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“Then they wanted to whine them again at the Olympics; hence some of us protested and refused to participate in the opening ceremony.
“I already got paid before I got to the Olympics. I was only fighting for the poor athletes. Over $2 million cash was brought into the Olympics but they refused to give athletes their warranted share.
“Intrigues like that is why I haven’t joined the current Nigerian tennis federation. Ask the current chairman if he has reached out to me or David Imonitie or Tony Mmoh (since he became the chairman?)”
“This same delay is still ongoing 2day…hence the footballers refuse to play in south Africa and the falcons also refused to play. Ask the current minister if they have paid the current athletes now!!”
A total of 128 players have been drawn to play in the Men’s and Women’s Singles event at the Paris 2024 Olympics but not one of them is a Nigerian.
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When asked if he felt hurt by that situation, Odizor stated that “It only hurts if we are qualified and not able to play”.
On which event he believes is the bigger between the Grand Slams and the Olympics, the former Davis Cup star told Nigeria Tennis Live that “Anyone can play in the ATP or grand slam but only a select few get to play in the Olympics. I was proud to represent Nigeria but had a terrible experience”.
‘The Duke’ is expected back to Nigeria in August for a training clinic for tennis youngsters as well as coaches and Nigeria Tennis Live will keep our readers informed ahead of that event.