Ibadan, Lagos clubs shine at Ooni of Ife tennis tournament

THE first Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi invitational tennis tourney organised by the Osogbo Tennis Club (OTC) ended on a glorious note, even as the royal father endorsed that the tournament be hosted every year by the club.

The three-day tournament which was designed to mark the first coronation anniversary of the monarch ended last weekend and was graced by Oba Ogunwusi himself and former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso among other dignitaries.

No fewer than 10 clubs from the South-West and Kwara states featured at the tournament.

Ibadan Tennis Club won the men’s singles title of the competition, while Lagos Lawn Tennis Club emerged victorious in the doubles event.

Ondo State Civil Service Club finished as runner up in the men’s singles as Kwara Hotel Tennis Club, Ilorin, were runner up in the doubles category.

Oba Ogunwusi in his remarks commended members of the Osogbo Tennis Club not only for honouring him with the tournament, but for striving to ensure the revival of tennis in the South-West in particular and Nigeria at large.

He also pledged that the tennis tournament would be an annual event.

Also, Kwankwaso in his remarks commended OTC for organising the competition, just as he pledged support for the initiative.

According to him, Oba Ogunwusi was worthy of being celebrated, adding the monarch’s value-adding strides were of note.

Meanwhile, the vice president of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Mr Yemi Owoseni, while commending the OTC for introducing the tourney, admonished that efforts be made to sustain the tempo of the tournament.