Improved skills thrill Sapetro Futures Tennis sponsors

Amos Garga (left) and Fiona Jibril of Sapetro (right) presenting MOP trophies to Ogunsakin and Benjamin at the end of Sapetro Futures Tennis Championship…at the weekend.

The standard of Nigeria’s young stars portends a good omen for the development of tennis, sponsors of the Sapetro Futures Tennis Championship have said.

The 2022 championship ended at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club at the weekend. Speaking at the end of the competition, Executive Vice Chairman of the South Atlantic Petroleum, Senator Daisy Danjuma, said: “Each time we come to watch these juniors, we see that the standard, especially their skill levels, have gone up. We hope they will continue to work hard to become successful professionals.” Senator Danjuma was represented at the event by the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Amos Garga.

The grande finale, which featured matches in four age groups of U-10s, U-12s, U-14s and U-16s, was dominated by players who had their parents or family members at the tournament.

The Amassianis from Abuja, Chidubem and Chibuikem, guided by their mother, Judith, won the Boys’ U-12s and Boys’ U-10s categories. Chidubem beat Calabar-based Damilare Agunbiade, whose father, Tunde, is his coach and guide, while Chibuikem defeated Ghasal Ashim from Oyo State in the Boys’ U-10s final.

Another Agunbiade, Toluwase, was runner-up in the Girls’ U-14s, where she lost to newly promoted Ndifreke Benjamin from the Lagos Apapa Club.

The Girls’ U-16s and Girls U-10s were also won by players, who were guided by their fathers at the tournament. Khadijat Mohamed, who showed very remarkable improvement, revenged her previous defeat to Bright Emmanuel to win the title in the Girls’ U-16s, while Mabubat Rasaq from Oyo State took the Girls U-10s title