NCC aims to empower youth through lawn tennis

The need for grassroots sports development in the country, especially lawn tennis, has been stressed.

Speaking with journalists at the third edition of the ongoing nation wide Tennis League Competition organised by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) in Ilorin at the weekend, commission secretary, Felix Adeoye, said that the aim was to empower and engage the youth through sports activities.

Adeoye, who said that the competition also aimed to discover talents, added that there were hidden talents in most parts of the country awaiting discovery, nurture and development.

“We’re going to hand over discovered talents to experts to help them move on to international scene. That’s our target. We’re not just going to leave them”, he said.

Also speaking, Coach of Team Techvibe, Jos, Mr. Oke Joseph, said that NCC tennis programme was capable of empowering the youth through sports.

Coach Oke Joseph, whose team Tecvibe Jos defeated Team Goshen, Ilorin, stressed the need for grassroots sports to be encouraged to attract local talents.

Oke Joseph, who commended the players for their doggedness and maintaining good sportsmanship, also applauded the organiser of the event for the vision and aspiration of engaging the youth through Lawn Tennis sport.

While calling on other blue chip organisations to follow suit, the coach said that youth restiveness, criminality among other societal ills among youth would be curbed with grassroots sports development.

A player of Team Techvibe, Jos, Micheal Michel, who expressed joy at defeating Team Goshen Ilorin, hoped that its team would get to final stage.

Meanwhile, after two days round robin matches, Optiweb beat team Oluyole 6-4 6-1 to claim the 3 point from Ilorin zone.