Nigeria intensify lobby for tennis slots

Tennis authorities in Nigeria, rally support for slots at the Olympics, from the world community, as the International Tennis Federation [ITF] and the Athens 2004 Olympics Committee on Tennis meet this week to decide the main draw.

No Nigerian tennis player has qualified to play at the Athens games in August, but the Nigeria Tennis Federation [NTF] hope to secure Wild Cards for some players to be at the games.

President of the NTF Engr. Sani Ndanusa, told nigeriasports.com in an interview Monday, that his federation has intensified efforts at getting the best of the country's players play in the Olympics, with former president of the NTF Chuka Momah, a member of the Athens 2004 Olympics Tennis Committee, as pointman.

"We are now working toward realising that goal more assiduously than before," he said, adding that," this is because the ITF and the committee on tennis for the games will soon decide on who to give the wild cards."

Ndanusa disclosed that he would be attending the Annual General Meeting of the ITF, scheduled to hold after the French Open Grand Slam event, to further persuade the ITF officials on Nigeria's quest.

"This thing goes beyond merit, there is the political angle, so we want to explore all avenues.The fact is that Nigeria is not the only country lobbying for wild cards," he remarked.

Speaking on the criteria for determining who to give a wild card, Ndanusa explained that the cards are for developing players in tennis." If you are good enough you should be in the main draw," he reasoned.

The NTF wish to secure wild cards for two players in the men's doubles and one in the ladies singles.

Already Clara Udofa has been selected to represent the country in the women's event while the battle to make the men's doubles team is among United States-based Jonethan Igbinovia, Abdulmumini Babalola, Sunday Maku and Toyin Dairo.