Nigeria’s prodigiously talented tennis player, MaryLove Edwards, has finally begun her journey towards becoming the world’s number one tennis player.
The youngster who has won everything that is up for grabs in her junior cadre, departed the shores of Nigeria for the IMG Tennis Academy, the number one tennis academy in the world, where former world number one players also kick started their careers.
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| MaryLove poses with her mother and brother before her departure for the IMG Tennis Academy. |
MaryLove left the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja on Friday September 1 with Koye Sowemimo, the Sports Director at the Temple Management Company, the organization managing the player.
She is to spend a minimum of four years at the academy, during which period she is expected to have become one of the best in the world.
In a chat with Naija Tennis Special before they left the country, Mr. Sowemimo informed that MaryLove’s departure for the IMG will afford her an opportunity to mingle with the best and come out as the very best.
He noted that since the world’s no 1. junior boys and girls emerged from the Academy, MaryLove will be in safe hands to further help with her development.
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| Koye Sowemimo and MaryLove Edwards before their departure on Friday evening. |
“IMG are proven in developing talents across multiple sports but tennis is where they have had most of their success. Their track record will only ensure that Marylove has the right structure to develop even quicker.
“She is 12 now and we had set a target of 5 years before she is competing with the world’s best
“It’s the next chapter and where she will face a much tougher test as the world No.1s in junior boys and girls are from IMG.
“But she ready for this and will only get better with world class coaches and facilities as part of her development,” the sports enthusiast affirmed.
Kayode Savage who has been MaryLove’s coach since inception also expressed noted that he would miss his favourite tennis star, but believes that her departure for the United States is in her very interest.
Naija Tennis Special will bring you the latest gists from her arrival at the IMG and keep you up to date with the latest developments as they concern the youngster.