Octogenarian wants sports clubs to encourage, sponsor tennis
NAN-S-10
Tennis
Calabar, Feb. 26, 2017 (NAN) An 88 year-old former tennis icon, Etubom Charles Duke, has advised sports clubs to evolve strategies for the discovery of future generation of players.
The tennis veteran gave the advice Sunday at the Calabar Sports Club during the closing ceremony of the “Etubom Charles Ekpo Duke Tennis Championship for Primary and Secondary Schools”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the four-day tournament was organised by the Cross River Sports Commission in honour of octogenarian to encourage the growth of the sport.
He urged sports clubs to initiate clinics and practical sessions for upcoming talents during long vacations and holidays.
According to him such initiatives will encourage the youths to develop interest in the racket sport.
He said: “You should encourage them to come around and some of them through ball boys can become masters of the court as some of the celebrated stars of today started from the scratch.
According to the organisers, the octogenarian had in his youthful days represented Nigeria at international tournaments in Ghana, Uganda and Senegal.
Michael Egbudu, Acting Secretary, Calabar Sports Club, called on the state government to complete the master court in the sports complex for the grooming of the young tennis talents.
Earlier, Orok Otu Duke, Chairman, Cross River Sports Commission, said that the championship was to acknowledge the contribution of the octogenarian to the sport.
The chairman pledged that the commission would encourage the survival of all the 43 sports in its mandate.
Highlights of the ceremony was the male final between John Patrick Odok and George Odok, both of St. Patrick’s College, Ikot Ansa.
The duo thrilled the spectators to “rookie exchanges’” with the later emerging victorious with a 5-4 set victory margin.
Buddings talents were also spotted in both sexes of the competition from the primary and secondary schools which participated in the championship.
Prizes and certificates were awarded to the participants by the organisers of the tournament. (NAN)
DOE/WOJ
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(Edited by Dianabasi Effiong / Wale Ojetimi)