AFTER two failed attempts with their established players, Team Civil Defence eventually emerged Nigeria’s best tennis team of the season as they defeated Team Muller of Lagos 4-0 last Sunday in Lagos to clinch the 2017 Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC Tennis League Cup.
The ‘Abuja landlords’ had lost in the final of the 2015 edition, while they finished in the third place in the 2016 edition before their triumph on Sunday at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Court, Onikan, which also earned them the star prize of N7million.
It was also a sweet revenge for Team Civil Defence who had earlier in the season’s opener lost 3-4 at home to the Lagosians.
The rain on the first day {Saturday} turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the ‘Abuja landlords’ as matches had to be shifted to the next day.
Reigning CBN Senior Open champion and Nigeria’s number one, Abdulmumuni Babalola who had lost the first set the previous day 4-6 came back to beat Joseph Imeh in the men’s singles 7-6, 6-4. The second set’s major was 4-4 when the match was stopped as a result of rain.
Former national champion, Clifford Enosorogbe followed suit as he also came back from a set down to outplay Emmanuel Idoko in the second men’s singles 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Though, the major score was 1-1 when the game was stopped by rain the previous day.
Nigeria’s women’s number one, Christie Agugbom made it 3-0 for Team Civil Defence when she hammered Ronke Akingbade 6-4, 6-2 in the ladies singles.
The hope of the Lagosians to stage a comeback was eventually dimmed when the duo of Abdulmumuni Babalola and Clifford Enosoregbe saw off Joseph Imeh and Mohammed Mohammed 7-6, 2-6, 11-9 in the men’s doubles to seal the NCC Tennis League title in grand style.
Speaking at the grand finale, executive vice chairman of NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta, who was represented by the Director, Research and Development Department at NCC, Mrs Abigail Sholanke, said his organisation is satisfied that the tournament has provided a platform to engage the youth and spread quality tennis round the country as well.
“The impact, which this tournament has made in the Nigerian tennis circuit gives us in the NCC a lot of satisfaction and fulfilment and we are proud to have used this opportunity to engage a number of Nigerian youths in very fruitful and engaging enterprise with a bright future outlook.
“We are even prouder to have taken quality tennis to different locations in the country and to see the players improving by the day due to the regular competitions the league offers,” Sholanke stated.
However, for getting to the final, Team Muller settled for N5million as Team Offikwu who spanked Team Ndoma-Egba 6-1 in the third place match earned N3million, while Ndoma-Egba went home with N2million for their efforts.
Meanwhile, Team Muller’s Joseph Imeh who did not lose a match in the round robin series went home with the male’s Most Outstanding Player (MOP) award, while Sarah Adegoke of Team Offikwu who also did not lose a match in the entire series claimed the female’s Most Outstanding Player (MOP) award.
The female’s Most Improved Player (MOP) award was won by Patience Onebamho of Team Goshen as Ikechukwu Iloputa of Team Kalotari claimed the male’s Most Improved Player (MIP) award.
Also, Team Goshen of Ilorin won the Best Host team award as Team Tech Vibe of Jos won the Best Away team award, while the most outstanding players in the junior category was won by Marylove Edwards (female) and Emmanuel Jebutu (male).
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