Stores FC Supporters Commend Adebajo Family and Media For FA Cup Return

The Stationery Stores FC Supporters’ Clubs Amalgamated—comprising several Chapters of the Club’s supporters—wish to commend the Adebajo family, owners of the team, for entering Stationery Stores FC (SSFC) for the 2016 FA Cup competition.

We are also not unmindful of the strong exhibition of professionalism by members of the sporting Press in Nigeria, whose very important contribution has continued to help improve the standard of our domestic league and has also helped consolidate efforts to return Stationery Stores FC to its rightful place in Nigerian soccer.

As the club continues its gradual ascent to its glorious position in the country’s football, we recall with nostalgia that SSFC has a chequered history of participation in the FA Cup Competition, which began in the country in 1942. The competition has been variously known as the “War Memorial Challenge Cup,” “Governor’s Cup,” “FA Cup,” and now, the “Federation Cup.” The rich history of Stationery Stores FC has seen it win the Lagos State version of the FA Cup 15 times—perhaps the highest number of times than any other club in the State. The darling team of Lagos—as Stationery Stores FC is also affectionately known—also won the national version of the competition in 1967, 1968, 1982 and 1990.

The return of Stores to the competition in 2016 is therefore in continuation of its renowned philosophy of providing entertaining and purposeful soccer to its teeming supporters in Lagos, Nigeria and Africa, and remaining competitive and focused. We believe that the young players who will be donning the colours of our Club in this year’s historic return will be desirous of chasing history and following in the fine traditions of their predecessors who lit the flame of Nigerian football and received a permanent, appreciative acclamation as the “Flaming Flamingoes.”

Stationery Stores Fc Supporters

Finally, we commend all the 52 Chapters of SSFC Supporters’ Clubs in Nigeria and the 10 Chapters overseas for remaining patient and loyal to the team and its owners. This is the time to increase our support and prayers for the success and irreversible ascent of the Adebajo Babes.

Long live the legacy of Israel Adebajo. Long live Stationery Stores Football Club.

Up Super. Triple Flaming. Gbogbo wa l’ore Adebajo! Iyo!!!

Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis: Nigerians face tough tests in second round

After what seems to be a jolly ride in the first round, Nigerian players are in for a real battle going in to the next round of the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship as the first leg (Futures 3) of the tournament enters second round Wednesday at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

According to the order of play for the second round matches, Sylvester Emmanuel, who upset an America’s Anderson Reed on Monday, will confront number two seed, Pere Riba of Spain.

Also, Albert Bikom will face tough test against number one seed, Aldin Setkic of Bosnia in another match just as Thomas Otu will slug it out with Van Der Duim of The Netherlands, the number six seed. Christian Paul will keep a date with sixth-seeded Duncan Mugabe of Uganda, who was a finalist last year.

In the Women’s Singles, Nigeria’s Osariemen Airhunmwunde will face Andrianjafitrimo Tessah of France, the number eight seed as Ronke Akingbade will clash with number sixth seed, Uirkke Eikeri from Norway.

Other matches of the second round will see South African Llyod Harris taking on David Pel of The Netherlands in the men’s singles, while Murta Lazareva of Russia will battle Thombere Prarthana Thombre of India in the women’s singles.

Conny Perrin of Switzerland will slug it out against Mara Schmidt of the USA. Tadeja Majeric of Slovaika will play against Ester Masuri of Israel. Alexandra Riley of America will have a showdown with Strakhova of Ukraine. Top seed Sherazad Reix of France will play against Valeria Bhunu of Zimbabwe.

The Trophy Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship
photo credit; governorscuplagostennis.com

Meanwhile, Clifford Enosoregbe of Nigeria could not make it to the second round Tuesday when he was defeated by Pere Riba of Spain in straight sets of 6-1, 6-0. Another Nigerian, Christopher Edward was beaten by Antal Van Der Duim of The Netherlands in straight of 6-3,6-2 while Mohammed Mohammed also bowed out to another Dutchman David Pel 6-1, 6-2.

Also, Nigeria’s Joseph Imeh retired in the first set of his match against France’s Fabien Reboul, while Nigerian born female player, Mellisa Ishuan Ifidzen, who represented Russia in the Governor’s Cup, was defeated by Thombere Prarthana Thombre of India in 6-2, 6-1 game in the Women’s Singles.

Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis: Nigeria’s Emmanuel Upsets America’s Reed In First Round

Nigerian players taking part in the 15th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship began their quest for honours with victories in the first round of the competition with Sylvester Emmanuel making the headlines following his 7-6(3), 6-3 win over American Anderson Reed at the Lord Rummen Centre Court of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

Emmanuel, a wild card entrant, clinched the men’s singles title at the Dala Hard Court Championship two weeks ago and he seems to have saved his best for the Governor’s Cup as he could only watch his Team Kalotari managed a third place finish at the NCC Team Tennis Final on Saturday.

An elated Emmanuel said after the match that he was not surprised with the victory over Reed who is ranked 1488 in the world, adding that hardwork and experience he gained while traveling around the world to play in different circuits won the match for him.

“I feel great winning this match. I went into the match with a great confidence that I would win. This is because I played more ATP tournaments than Reed. He is a good player but I’m better than him,” said Emmanuel, who in the past few months had played in ATP ranked competitions in the USA, Togo and Benin Republic.

The Nigerian star, however, said that this year’s Governor’s Cup will be different for the local players as they are battle ready to give their foreign counterparts a good run for their money.

Other Nigerians who made a headway in the first round of the men’s singles are Mohammed Mohammed, who defeated Ghana’s Bernard Dugbah 4-6, 5-3, 5-3, while Albert Bikom also edged Swiss Jessy Kalambay 5-7, 6-4, 7-5, all in the men’s singles.

Some Nigerian ladies won their respective matches of the first round, moving on to the second round. Ronke Akingbade beat compatriot Christie Nwankwo 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, while Blessing Samuel lost to Osariemen Airhumwunde 6-4, 6-2.

Men singles final 2014
photo credit; governorscuplagostennis.com

The duo of Mohammed Mohammed and Joseph Imeh beat the pair of Alexei Filenkov of Russia and Aldin Setkic of Bosnia to progress to the second round.

It was not a smooth sailing for Nigeria as Aminat Quadri lost 6-0, 6-0 to Frenchwoman Tessah Andrianoafitrimo while Kyra Shroff of India also crushed Nigeria’s Rita Obasigie 6-0, 6-0 in the women’s singles.

In other results, Tadeja Majeric of Slovakia beat Eden D’Oliveira of USA 60-3, 6-1. Ester Masuri of Israel defeated Olena Kyrpot of Ukraine 6-0, 6-3. Germany’s Andiyo Inwang, who was given a wildcard was beaten by Mara Schmidt of USA in straight set of 6-1, 6-3.

Zimbabwe’s Valeria Bhumu beat Usina Sumail of India 6-1, 6-2, while Alexandria Riley of the USA defeated Nina Kolar of Slovakia 5-3, 6-0 all in the women’s singles.

2015 Governor’s cup Lagos Tennis serves off….Nigeria gets large Wild card slots

The 15th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship will formally serve off on Monday at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, with no fewer than 20 matches on the card in the Men and Women singles main draw.

As hosts, Nigeria, understandably was given the privilege of having the largest number of Wild Card slots as no fewer than eight of the country’s players move into the main draw due to the fact that precious few of its players are in the ATP and WTA rankings.

Leading the nation’s quest for glory in the $80,000 prize-money tournament is Moses Micheal, the reigning champion, who took advantage of the abridged version held last year due to the Ebola virus scourge which restricted participating players to Africa.

The Trophy Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship
photo credit; governorscuplagostennis.com

Micheal is the highest-ranked Nigerian player in the ATP and after helping Tombim to win the NCC Team Tennis title on Saturday, he is expected to have his hands full as players from Europe, Asia and The Americas will all be featuring this time around.

Another player that will be on the spotlight is Melissa Ifidzhen, the Russian-Nigerian player who has been making waves both home and abroad.

The 18-year-old took Nigerian tennis by storm by winning this year’s Central Bank of Nigerian Open women’s singles, Women’s double and the mixed double titles.

The former Russian junior champion also comes into the championship in good form as she ended up as women’s doubles finalist at the ITF Circuit in Egypt two weeks ago. She has also won two women singles titles in Russia prior to her remarkable display in Egypt.

“I’m hoping for another memorable experience in Nigeria. The first time I played here was very successful and I’m looking forward to a good tournament. Hopefully, I will get my first WTA singles points right here in Nigeria,” she said after a training session on Saturday.

Melissa Ifidzhen,

Meanwhile, the LOC has urged tennis fans to turn out en masse and fill the stands stating that the Governor’s Cup is gradually becoming synonymous with renowned international tournaments in tennis.

Tournament Coordinator, Prince ‘Wale Oladunjoye, pointed that the next generation of world stars will be coming from the tournament; a fact he highlighted with India’s Sania Mirza, the 2004 champion, who is the current Wimbledon and US Open doubles title holder.

Bosnia and Herzegovina player, Aldin Setkic is the highest ranked star in this year’s tournament. He is ranked number 231, while French player, Sherazad Reix is leading the female player. She is ranked number 247 in the world.
Players from more than 50 countries will be taking part in the double-phase fortnight-long tournament.

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.