Equity Bank International Junior Tournament Our ambition’ said Mr Ajayi, ‘ is to nuture this championship to become part of the international circuit and count as a junior ranking event of the ITF for which junior players from all over the world will attend and compete He said it was regrettable that the game of tennis, which only a few years ago gave our nation international recognition and acclaim through the exploits of tennis stars like Nduka Odizor and Lawrence Awopegba etc was sliding into oblivion.
“The rating of "Nigeria in the international tennis arena’ the managing director noted, “continues to plummet as quality younger players are no longer available to take over from the ageing ones.
“We at Equity Bank are determined to reverse this trend as an integral part of our overall social responsibility to the Nigeria nation, particularly the youth.”
Adding, “this programme is a fulfillment of a year-long preparation By Equity Bank to anchor and finance a junior open tennis championship.
He promised ‘mouth watering’ prizes for the winners and urged the young tennis players in the country some of whom attended with their parents to make good use of the opportunity to showcase their talent.
Mr Godwin Kienka, director of the International Tennis Academy, organizers of the tournament said the Equity Bank championship was a great beginning for the circuit which is planned for major cities across the country.
Mr Kienka said the project has already received One million naira worth of rackets from Wilson Sporting Company in the USA to enable the players play matches with standard tournament racquets.
He also said that a major transport company, Izuchukwu Transport Company Limited has agreed to give a 50 per cent rebate to parents, coaches and players attending the circuit tournaments He said about 200 juniors have already entered for the Equity Bank Championships and that entry was open till the draws are made.
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