Nigerian Tennis Star’s Mum Killed By Police For Burial Friday

The remains of Beauty McLeod, mother of Nigerian tennis junior champion, Angel, will be laid to rest today at Ogbunka Town, Orumba South LGA of Anambra State.

The 37-year-old, who is also an active tennis player, was killed last October in Lagos during an altercation with a mobile policeman attached to the Victoria Island, Lagos hotel in which she had lodged.

Angel Mcleod, daughter of the deceased, Beauty Mcloed

A member of the prestigious Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Beauty relocated to Nigeria from Dubai in 2014 and was preparing for the Governor’s Cup among other domestic tournaments before the tragic incident. Her last major tournament was in May last year when she featured in the CBN Open in Lagos.

The Nigeria Tennis Federation President in a tribute by its president, Engr. Sani Ndanusa, commended the deceased for the great role she played in the blossoming career of her daughter, who has been identified by experts as a global star prospect.

“It’s very clear to all that she (Beauty) wants her daughter to succeed as a tennis player. She laid a very good foundation by making sure that she provides everything Angel needs both in material and human support.

“Beauty has been a reference point of how a parent-child synergy helps bring the best out of kid(s) talent in sports. She sponsors her daughter to tournaments within and outside the country. She also travelled with her everywhere just to give her the psychological support for her to excel,” he said.

The Late Beauty Mcloed

Ndanusa, a former sports minister, pledged that the federation will strive to make sure that Angel attained a professional status in the coming years to fulfill her mum’s dream.

“The first step that we have taken is to send her to the ITF Training Center in Morocco where she will be based for some few years. Thereafter, we will see to her need to feature in different tournaments across the world in order to bring out the best in her.”

2015 Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Melissa arrives from Russia As NTF sends Angel McLeod to ITF Centre in Morocco

Russian-born Nigerian tennis star, Mellissa Ifidzhen is scheduled to arrive Lagos today for the 15th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship which will hold from 5th-19 December at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

The reigning Central Bank of Nigeria Open Women Singles champion will be making her debut in the $80,000 prize-money event which will see players from about 30 countries across the world battling for honours.

Secretary-General of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Gloria Ekwempu-Chinwuoko informed on Tuesday that the former Russian Junior champion, who won silver at the last All Africa Games in Congo, Brazaville has confirmed her participation at the two weeks-long tournament which has been identified as a leading top-grade event on the continent by the International Tennis Federation.

Melissa Ifidhzen

The Governor’s Cup has served as a springboard to the successful careers of some global tennis stars notably among is Indian Sania Mirza, who won the tournaments two legs in 2004, a year after she turned professional.

She is the reigning Wimbledon and US Open women’s doubles champion having paired Swiss Martina Hingis to win the two grand slams this year.

Meanwhile, the NTF has revealed that it has reached an advanced stage in sending Angel Mcleod to the ITF High Performance Centre in Morocco.

Angel Mcleod, daughter of the deceased Beauty Mcloed

The 13-year-old national junior champion has been in the cold as a result of the death of her mum, Beauty, who was killed by a mobile policeman in Lagos in October.

NTF President, Engr. Sani Ndanusa told the media that the federation is about to conclude arrangements with the ITF to see her shift her base to the north African country in order to help her achieve her dream in tennis after losing her mum in a pitiable circumstances.

“I’m looking forward to going there (Morocco) to play tennis. My mum’s dream has always been for me to play tennis and become a star and I believe I can make that dream come true by going to a place like Morocco to develop my career,” Angel, who until last year was based in Dubai, said.

NTF Laments Mcleod’s Killing …Calls For Prosecution Of Killer Cop

The Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) has expressed shock following the killing of Beauty Mcleod, a Nigerian tennis player on Monday.

The 36-year-old, who alongside her daughter Angel, 14, moved to Nigeria from their base in Dubai last year, died of gunshot injuries she sustained from a trigger-happy mobile policeman in a Victoria Island, Lagos hotel on Tuesday during an altercation. It calls for the prosecution of the killer cop.

Beauty’s demise is the latest in the series of deaths recorded in Nigerian tennis in recent months following the demise of another player, Glady’s O’Mailey, who gave up the ghost after child birth while Cosmos Ntemuse, a referee also died recently.

Angel Mcleod, daughter of the deceased Beauty Mcloed

“This is a very dark period for Nigerian tennis because Beauty is one player that has been helping in the development of Nigerian tennis through the support she has been giving to her daughter, Angel, who is one of our brightest junior tennis players. We are deeply shocked by her death” NTF boss Sani Ndanusa said.

“Beauty has been a clear example of NTF’s crusade of parents’ support for their kid(s) in tennis; something that has helped the top stars of tennis globally. She takes responsibilities for the career of her daughter following her to tournaments within and outside Nigeria which has really helped her to become one of the most promising junior players in Africa.

“Besides, she is known as a straightforward person and only God knows why her life was cut short this way. However, we are sure that her killer will be brought to justice,” Ndanusa lamented, as he prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul while he also prayed for her family the fortitude to bear the loss.

In August, Beauty accompanied four Nigerian players, including Angel, to the West African Junior tennis Championship in Lome, Togo. She was also with her daughter when she went for a month-long ITF scholarship training in Nairobi, Kenya in June.

Beauty Mcloed

Head coach of the Nigeria junior tennis team, Mohammed Ubale, noted that the vacuum created by Beauty’s demise will be felt by Nigerian tennis.

“She was everything to her Angel; she is her mother, she is her coach, and she serves as a great motivation to her. She will be missed by all.

Still an active tennis player, Beauty regularly featured in national tournaments across Nigeria. She took part alongside her daughter at this year’s Central Bank of Nigeria Open, the biggest domestic tournament in the NTF calendar.

CBN Tennis: Melissa Powers On, As Top Seeds Qualify

Melissa Ifidzhen clinched a quarterfinal place in the women’s singles of the 37th Central Bank of Nigeria Tennis Championship holding in Lagos after a 6-0, 4-6, 6-0 win over Sarah Adegoke to send shivers down the spines of her rivals at the tournament which is ending on Saturday.

The Russian-Nigerian will now face Patience Onebhamoin for a place in the last four where she could meet either Blessing Anuna or Beauty Mcleod, who both secured quarterfinal spots with 6-1, 6-1 and 6-2, 6-0 wins over Pauline Ebijimi and beauty Ogenekevwe respectively.

Defending champion and women’s top seed, Christy Agugbom ended the dream of Angel Mcleod with a 6-1, 6-4 win to set up a mouth-watering tie with 2013 queen Ronke Akingbade, a 6-1, 6-4 victor over Aminat Quadri.

37th Central Bank of Nigeria Tennis Championship

Blessing Samuel and Aanu Aiyegbusi will clash in the last quarterfinal after wins against Afolarin Akosile and Kelechi Njoku.

In the men’s singles, defending champion, Abdulmumuni Babalola defeated Michael Eludoyin 6-2, 6-1 to book a third round tie with Monday Igbinovia, who out stroked Chukwuma Abba 7-5, 6-2.

Governor’s Cup Lagos tennis reigning champion, Moses Michael also continued with his impressive form as he brushed aside Destiny Ford Da-Silva 6-4, 6-2.

Among other players that secured victories yesterday are top seed, Clifford Enosoregbe, Lawal Shehu, Joseph Imeh, Iekchukwu Iloputa, Henry Atseye, John Otu, Thomas Otu, Emmanuel Sunday, Nonso Madueke and Sunday Maku.