Amasiani dominates two age grades at NNPC/SNEPCO Invitational Masters

A vastly improved Chukwudubem Amasiani, at the weekend, took the two titles at stake in the NNPC/SNEPCo Invitational Tennis Masters for boys and girls 12s and 14s, which held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The 12 year-old Abuja-based lad took full advantage of the decision by the organisers to allow very promising players go up one age group, to beat top seed, Gbolahan Olawale from Ondo State, 12 – 10, 10 – 5 in a keenly contested and exciting match in the Boys’ 14 final.

Amasiani went on to also clinch the Boys’ 12 title, defeating Joel Michael from Lagos 10 – 4, 10 – 6.

In the Girls’ 12 and under, Mofifunoluwa Atilola of Lagos proved she was head and shoulders above the field, as she did not drop a set in the entire tournament. Atilola, whose service prowess mesmerised her opponents, defeated Favour Okon-James from Akwa Ibom 10-5, 10-5.

The Girls’ 14 title was won by Gloria Samuel from Ekiti, who beat Fego Ayetuoma from Port Harcourt 12 – 10, 10-2. The Invitational Masters featured some of the best juniors in the country and was aimed at stimulating the game of tennis in Bayelsa State.

Speaking at closing ceremony, Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, Daniel Igali, an Olympic gold medalist, said the tournament was an eye opener for the state to take the development of tennis more seriously, especially as the sport is very lucrative worldwide.

He thanked the sponsors, who were represented by Chief Ucheoma Amaechi for Shell and Osinachi Nwosu for the NNPC, to continue the sponsorship and even raise the level as the talents he saw have the skill sets to become worldclass players.

The grand finale, which featured a two-hour basic tennis coaching programme for about 200 school children, was organised by the International Tennis