Obafemi Awolowo Tennis Club (OATC), Ibadan, on Monday again rallied to a 4-3 victory over Lekan Salami Stadium Tennis Club (LSSTC) a.k.a. ‘The Tennis Family’ in a return leg friendly, which was also used to celebrate Nigeria’s 57th Independence Day Anniversary.
OATC had last month in the first leg friendly defeated their hosts at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, also by the same margin.
The Tennis Family handled by former Nigerian international, coach Tajudeen Kasali, this time at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium fought spiritedly to win the reverse fixture but to no avail.
The visitors rose to a 2-0 lead through Adedibu Ibrahim who defeated Yemi Asaleye of OATC 8-3 in a pro set men’s singles, while the pair of Tade Anjorin Ohu and Adesolape Folarin defeated the duo of Kunle Yusuf and Lawrence Odumbo in the game which ended in super tie-break 8-7 (10-8).
Barrister Leye Adepoju recorded the first victory for OATC when he pipped Abiodun Olagunju 8-5 in another pro set men’s singles, while the duo of Barrister Leye Olubajo and Olatunde Oladimeji in the men’s doubles outplayed the pair of Olanrewaju Balogun and Aluko Bankole 8-0.
The Tennis Family took the lead again when Tade Anjorin Ohu defeated Col. Ojomo Adetokunbo (retd) 8-4 in another men’s singles game.
OATC made it 3-3 through the pair of Leye Adepoju and Leye Olubajo as they defeated the duo of Ibrahim Adedibu and Adesolape Folarin 8-3 which turned out to be the toughest game of the day.
The hosts eventually confirmed supremacy in the 7-match friendly as the duo of Olatunde Oladimeji and Lawrence Odumbo secured 8-4 victory over the pair of Tade Anjorin Ohu and Abiodun Olagunju also in the reverse men’s doubles.
Earlier in his remarks, Club Captain of OATC, Kunle Yusuf, thanked members of The Tennis Family for honouring the return leg friendly.
He stated that the two-legged friendly has further strengthened the unity existing among members of both clubs.
Meanwhile, coach Taju Kasali noted that subsequent friendlies should give room for more players from both clubs to be involved.
“The primary aim of every participant who steps in the court is to keep fit and that has been achieved. It would add fun to this friendly programme if players with low rankings from both clubs too have the opportunities to play instead of watching other high-ranked colleagues play at all times,” he said.
He urged other tennis clubs especially in the metropolis to imbibe the idea of inter club friendly.
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