Obafemi Awolowo Tennis Club product, Afolabi, wins 2018 CBN junior tournament

AFOLABI Imole from Oyo State last weekend at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos, emerged winner of the 2018 Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) junior tennis championship in the U12 girls category.
In what turned out to be a double victory for Team Oyo, hard-hitting Mubarak Ganiyu also from Oyo State clinched the U12 boys title, as he defeated Philip Pyagbara from Port Harcourt in the final 9-3.
The product of Obafemi Awolowo Tennis Club (OATC) Afolabi who made her debut in the tournament, subdued Esther Oni of Lagos 9-6 in the final decided at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.
Afolabi, it will be recalled, had her first national tournament last December in the Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF-organised junior championship in Abuja.
Technical director of OATC, Faboyinde Adepeju, while speaking with Corporatesport said the victory of her ward was marvellous.
“During the workout for the final, her racket string was torn and she had to play with my racket. After she raced to a 3-0 lead, she complained that the racket was too heavy for her to use and in a jiffy, we had to restring her racket which she used for the remaining part of the game.
“In fact, she was a bit jittery at the start of the competition because it was her second national tournament. She eventually gained confidence in the semi-final and before the final, she promised me the trophy and I give glory to God that her wish was accomplished.
“One good thing about her is the ability to play to instructions. I’m happy more importantly that her victory would inspire other students in our Academy too to come up,” said Faboyinde, a former senior CBN Tennis Open doubles champion.
Meanwhile, the male winner, Mubarak Ganiyu was also adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the championship following his outstanding performance in the glamorous junior circuit organised by the International Tennis Academy (ITA).
Oyo State tennis head coach and father of the male champion, Tirimisiyu Ganiyu,  was impressed with the performance of his team in Lagos.
“This is his third national tournament, he [Mubarak] emerged the second best in his group at the NTF junior tournament in Abuja last December lost in the quarter-final at SNEPCo tournament in Lagos last year before he eventually got it right this time at the CBN circuit.
“His qualities as a player made the organisers to name him the best player of the tournament and this is a plus for Oyo State as far as tennis is concerned. I’m happy that we rule in the U12 category and the sky is the limit for Mubarak and Imole,” the elated coach said.
He also applauded the exploits of some of his wards at the just-ended 2018 CBN junior tennis circuit.
Kaosarat Adegboyega got to the semi-final and I believe that she lost to a better opponent [Aderemi Omolade] given her pedigree. Michael Akinmusere played well too but he was a bit nervous in the game, while Abiodun Adekunle lost in the semi-final of the U16 category. He gave a good account of himself and I was impressed with his performance,” Tirimisiyu said.
Meanwhile, other winners of the 2018 CBN junior tennis circuit are: Precious Ikenwa, U10 boys; Nene Yakubu, U10 girls; Daniel Adeleye, U-14 Boys; Oiza Yakubu U14 girls; Gabriel Friday, U16 boys and Favour Moses, U16 girls.