Ex-Players Organise Junior Clinic In Kaduna

As part of efforts to give back to the society and the game that made them, America-based former Nigerian internationals, Nduka Odizor and Sadiq Abdullahi, have put together a clinic to develop the skill of junior players in the game.

The clinic, which started yesterday in Kaduna will end on 5 July. Tennis Special gathered that the junior clinic is meant for players within the ages 14, 16 and 18.

While speaking on the programme on telephone yesterday, the Secretary General of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Olusola Luke, said the Kaduna event, which is meant for players in the northern part of Nigeria, is the first phase of a series of programmes the duo of Odizor and Abdullahi have planned for the game in the country. He said the Lagos leg, which will be targeted at players in the south, will hold between 7 and 11 July.

“This is a good thing for Nigerian tennis,” said Luke. “It is one of those things we are looking forward to from our former players and I think it is not a crime to give back to the game that had made them.

“I want to say that the clinic has received a tremendous response from the players. As at Monday (yesterday), 30 players had registered, while a number of coaches are on ground to gain from the expertise of these players from America. Abdullahi will take the players on series of new things in the game, while Odizor will join him before the week runs out,” he said.

Luke also revealed that more of these clinics are coming between now and September. According to him, “Odizor and Abdullahi told me that they have a plan to hold clinics for umpires and coaches by September. I’m happy to say that this is part of what we are expecting from the players who have benefited from the game.”

He noted that the federation is solidly behind the good works the ex- internationals are doing to help develop their younger ones back home.