Tennis: Abdullahi Trains Team Nigeria Junior Players In US

Two Team Nigeria junior players had their games polished with the latest techniques in tennis by former Nigerian tennis star, Sadiq Abdullahi as Nigeria continues its quest to unleash future tennis superstars.

The duo of Toyin Asogba and Venus Ubiebi were drilled for a week by Abdullahi at the Ricc Macci Tennis Academy, Boca Raton, Florida. The players also took some coaching tips from Abdul Adi, a former Nigerian player who is an academy coach in the United States at his base in Bradenton, Miami.

Ubiebi, a Ricc Macci coach, Asogba, Venus and Abdullahi

The week-long training tour, was facilitated by Aces Tennis Services.

Nigeria junior tennis assistant coach Abel Ubiebi also benefited from the tour after sessions with a couple of top junior coaches in the US. “It was a wonderful and unforgettable experience for me as well as the players. We were exposed to so many things which would help in the development of tennis particularly from the aspect of coaching.

“We had good discussion and ideas on developing tennis in Nigeria,” expressed Ubiebi, who alongside Stella Epego were part of the coaching staff of Team Nigeria at the 2016 West & Central African qualifiers for the African Junior Championship in Abuja last January.

Asogba was a silver medalist at the 2015 African Junior Circuit held in Lome Togo and also featured at the 2016 West & Central African Championship qualifier where she lost to Angel McLeod in the quarterfinal to miss out of the recently held 39th ITF/CAT African Junior Championships in Pretoria, South Africa.

Abdulahi with Asogba and Venus

Venus on her part failed to make the final 16-man team from the 32 players that were invited to camp.

Alongside Nduka Odizor, David Imonitie and Tony Nmoh; Abdullahi put Nigeria’s name on the global map of tennis in the 80’s through the early 90’s. He represented Nigeria at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. The right-hander reached his highest singles ATP-ranking on October 14, 1985, when he became the number 262 of the world.

ITF/CAT U18 Championship Melissa, Garos-Pam Bow Out In Egypt

Melissa Ifidzhen’s hope of bagging a medal on her debut outing for Nigeria ended on Tuesday as she fell to Lee Barnard of South Africa 2-6, 7-5 6-1 in the second round of the ongoing 38th ITF/CAT African Closed Junior Championship holding at the Smash Tennis Academy in Cairo, Egypt.

After a one-sided opening set which saw the seventh-seeded South African breaking the Nigerian twice in succession from the third to sixth game, Melissa got her groove back by breaking her opponent in the fifth set of the second game to level the tie but fizzled out in the final set against her more aggressive opponent.

Less than two hours later, Melissa, a former Russian U12 champion, was back in action in the doubles and the energy consumed in her single’s clash reflected on her display as her tag with Elizabeth Garos-Pam could not match the fireworks from the pair of Chiraz Bechri of Tunisia and Ines Ibbou of Algeria who won the second round tie 6-2 6-3.

Bechri and Ibbou were seeded second and had received a bye coming into the match but they were also sent packing later in the day as they stumbled to the Egyptian duo of Hana Mortagy and Sandra Samir who are seeded seventh.

Other qualifiers in the doubles are Rita Atik / Zaineb Houari of Morocco, Rouxanne Van Rensburg / Katie Poluta of South Africa and Habiba Lasheen/ Farah Abd El Wahab of Egypt.

Togo 2015 ITF/CAT Tourney Nigeria Emerges Champions With 7 Gold

Nigeria once again proved her superiority in West & Central African tennis by winning seven gold and 1 bronze medal to emerge the overall winners of the ITF/CAT U16 Championship which was concluded at the weekend in Togo.

Oyinlomo Quadri was the star player of the double-phased tournament as she upset three higher rated opponents en route her winning the U14 girls’ singles.

She accounted for the exit of the number one seed, Kaita Aishata of Mali 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinal before capping a glorious outing with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Carmene Kpadonou of Benin in Saturday’s final at the Stade Omnisports, Lome.

photo credit ittf.com

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Although Quardi could still play in the U12, she was registered for the U14 in order to garner more points which would aid her featuring in the African Junior Championship Masters billed for Morocco later in the year.

Nigeria’s great showing at the weeklong tournament which featured five countries was highlighted by the country’s winning of the boys’ and girls’ U12 where Mathew Abamu and Toyin Asogba respectively defeated Suleiman Quattara of Cote d’Ivoire and Patricia Wamba of Cameroon 6-2, 6-1 and 6-3,3-6, 6-4.

Meanwhile, Nigeria will also be seeking glory as the ITF/CAT U18 Championship which serves off in Cairo, Egypt on Monday with Russian-born Melissa Ifidzhen leading a strong Team Nigeria.

The 16-year-old former Russian U12 champion will be making her debut for Nigeria at the tournament which will have more than 20 countries in attendance.

Other members of the team are Elizabeth Garos-Pam, who arrived Cairo alongside her dad from her London base on Friday. South African-based Adetayo Adetunji, Angel Macloed and Sunday Emmanuel complete the team to be led by coach Mohammed Ubale.

Togo 2015 ITF/CAT C’ship:Nigeria’s Quadre Causes Upsets, Moves Into Semis

Oyinlomo Quadre maintained her impressive form at the ongoing ITF/CAT African Junior U16 Championship holding in Togo by beating Grace Bougre of Cote d’Ivoire 6-2, 6-0 to move into the quarterfinal of the girls U14 of the five nation tournament.

Quadre, who on Wednesday took gold in the first phase of the girls U12 singles, showed no stage fright as she defeated her much older opponent hitting series of winners as the concluding phase of the tournament gets underway at the Stade Omnisports, Lome on Thursday.

Although she is still eligible to play in the U12, Quadre was entered for the U14 in order to make more points which would see her making it to the forthcoming Africa Junior Championship Masters later this year.

However, Quadre was to taste defeat moments later when her tag with Venus Ubiebi lost to Chelsea Agaounga and Carmene Kpadonou of Benin in the doubles of the U14. Ubiebi had earlier lost to Kpadonou in the U14 singles.

A mixed day of fortunes for Nigeria saw Toyin Asogba defeating Grace Sapoude of Cote d’Ivoire 6-2, 6-2 in the girls U12 singles while in the boys’ singles, Mathew Abamu defeated Alexandre Santos of Benin 6-1, 6-0.

Asogba who paired with Quadre in the girls’ U12 doubles in the first phase, is in line for another doubles’ gold as she partnered Sadjo Coulibaly of Cote d’Ivoire to beat Ivorian duo of Sapoude and Minet Linbell 6-1, 6-0 to qualify for the semifinal.

Nigeria’s coach Abel Ubeibi lauded the performance of the Nigerian players declaring that the team are aiming to better their performance in the first phase where Nigeria won three gold medals.

Female Footballers and their Coaches recognized by Peps-Pean Productions

Pepsie Adiukwu, CEO of Peps-Pean Productions and a leading figure within female football in Nigeria has confirmed that she has arranged a female football match on Sunday 6th April 2014 to honour female footballers and their coaches.

Sunday 6th April is the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

Launched by the UN at the initiative of the International Olympic Committee, the first ever ‘International Day of Sport for Development and Peace’ will take place on Sunday 6th April 2014.

The event represents a unique opportunity to mobilize, join forces, encourage and bring to light projects for peace and development through sport.

Peps-Pean Productions is joining this major celebration of sport for peace by organizing a football match on Sunday 6th April 2014 at the National Stadium Surulere practice pitch.

The goal of this event is to celebrate sport as a tool for development and peace and encourage members of the public to raise awareness and rally support for initiatives in their local communities.

Joël Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport stressed the importance of the event: “By establishing 6 April as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, the UN and IOC are paying tribute to the unique role of sport in our society and honouring its constructive and positive values,” he said.

“Throughout the year, a tremendous amount of work is carried out by stakeholders on the ground – often in difficult conditions. This day serves as a way to recognize and honour their achievements,” Bouzou continued.

Indeed, Peps-Pean Productions is using this initiative to honour grassroots female footballers and their coaches – unsung heroes who guide them to hone their skills, in various nooks and crannies of Nigeria.

Pepsie Adiukwu a TV producer/presenter of many firsts has been involved in the development and promotion of female football in Nigeria for two decades.

Amanze Uchegbulam, Pepsie Adiukwu & Ben Alozie – ‘Female Soccer with Pepsie’ – 1999

Indeed, the ace broadcaster through her TV program, “Female Soccer with Pepsie” pioneered the coverage of female football.

“I remain very committed towards contributing whatever I can to the development of female football. On the occasion of this first ever ‘International Day of Sport for Development and Peace’ I felt it right to recognise our grassroots female footballers and their coaches for their contribution” she said.

Coach Joy Etim the first female coach in Nigeria and a one-time female national team coach has been coaching female footballers for over twenty years and currently coaches young girls at the National Stadium Surulere.

“I really appreciate the recognition that Pepsie Adiukwu has always given to our female footballers and coaches. We do not really get much recognition for our efforts, so it is very motivating,” said Coach Joy.

Toyin Asogba

Toyin Asogba a 13 year old JS3 student of David International College Obalende currently trains and plays at the National Stadium Surulere and is coached by Nkechi Mbilitam a former national team utility player who was part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup – China PR 1991.

“I am happy to play in the match that has been organised by Pepsie Adiukwu.

It gives us players the encouragement we need.

We invite everyone who can to come to the National Stadium on April 6 to support us and watch us play. You can also “like” our photo on April6 Facebook page or Pepsie Adiukwu Facebook page.”

For more information on the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace please visit http://www.april6.org