NCC Tennis League: Kalotari, Civil Defence set Garden City aglow

Actions in the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC Tennis League resume tomorrow (Saturday) as Team Kalotari host Team Civil Defence at the Port Harcourt Club in what will be a decider in the Blue group.

Unarguably, the winner of the tie will finish second behind unbeaten Team Muller of Lagos and are guaranteed of N2million prize money for getting to the last four.

Both Team Kalotari and Civil Defence had suffered one defeats each in the competition with three points to show.

Coach of Team Kalotari, Sunday Samuel said he hopes for the best against the 2015 finalists saying his team’s hope of making it to the semi-final is on course.

The Garden City-side boast enterprising youthful players who are still struggling to make headlines like the National Sports Festival champion, Christian Paul; fast improving and quarter-finalist in the doubles at the 2017 Lagos Governor’s Cup, Ikechukwu Iloputa; 2017 CBN Senior Open semi-finalist, Sunday Emmanuel as well as rising female star Blessing Samuel and national junior girls champion Angel Mcleod; who on a good day could make nonsense of any opposition regardless of venue.

On the other hand, the Abuja landlords parade national champion Abdulmumuni Babalola and former national champion Clifford Enosorogbe, Nonso Madueke as well as the current national women’s champion, Christie Agugbom, among others.

Perhaps, the home loss suffered at the hands of Team Muller has become a warning signal to Team Kalotari to guard against complacency this time, moreso that the race has got to a crucial stage.
“It’s not going to be an easy game playing against Team Civil Defence, but we are very optimstic that we are going all the way to the semi-final against all odds.

“The truth of the matter is that whoever wins automatically qualifies for the semi-final behind Team Muller and I have asked for more commitment on the part of my players this time to get the job done. The loss to Team Muller at home was a setback and we have learned a lesson. My players took the match for granted and we paid for it. Many people thought we will beat Civil Defence because it was a match that we ought to have won.

We have done the needful and we hope on God to crown our efforts,” the former Team FCT handler told Tribunesport.

The Benue State-born coach noted that the opposition in the Blue group was tougher than that of the White group.

“This is actually the tougher group and I believe all the three teams here can beat any of the two groups in White group at any stage. Based on my calculation, I am still hopeful that my team would make it to the semi-final and possibly face Team Muller again in the final. So, we have to get our act together this time to ensure the fall of Team Civil Defence,” said Samuel, who is also the coach of two of his children at Kalotari, Sunday and Blessing.

Meanwhile, four games will be decided today in the Garden City -two men’s singles, one ladies singles and men’s doubles, while the remaining three games, two reverse men’s singles and mixed doubles will be played on Sunday..

In the other fixtures for this weekend, Team Oluyole will confront table leaders with four points, Team Muller at the National Stadium, Lagos, while Team VGC Lions host Team Optiweb of Ilorin at the at the VGC Sports Club, Lagos, in a formality clash as both sides had one point each to show.

The final group games in the White group take place next weekend in Abuja, Jos and Kaduna.

According to the organisers of the NCC Tennis League, the winners go home with N7million as the runners up earn N5million, while the third and fourth-placed teams will settle for N3million and N2million respectively as prize money.