Adewale Isa Foundation: Organisers Highlight Gains of AIF Junior Tennis Championship

Posted : 11 August 2024

The organisers of the Adewale Isa Foundation (AIF) Junior Tennis Championship said on Saturday that the competition has produced a significant number of tennis stars over the years.

They made this announcement during a press briefing at the Centre Court of the Tennis Section, National Stadium, Surulere, to reveal plans for the fifth edition of the championship.

Olayinka Adigun, a member of the AIF Board, expressed satisfaction with the number of stars that had emerged from previous editions of the championship.

According to her, the fifth AIF Junior Tennis Championship will commence on Aug. 13, with players from 18 states across Nigeria participating.

Adigun noted that the championship was established and sustained to immortalize the late Nigerian tennis legend, Adewale Isa.

“The AIF Championship began as a way to honor our father, Alhaji Adewale Isa, whose contributions to tennis are well known. He was the guiding coach for many tennis players and coaches who have gone on to achieve greatness in the sport.

"Among these greats are some of the people here today, who have excelled in various capacities through tennis.

"We are pleased to continue sponsoring and organizing this competition because we see the fruits of our labor blossoming quickly and before our eyes," she said.

Adigun also highlighted that many champions produced by the tournament have achieved success at both national and international levels.

"We are grateful to have provided them with the platform to hone their skills and become top-class athletes in every sense.

"Notable players include Chukwudubem Amasiani, currently the number one U-14 junior in West Africa and ranked eighth in Africa, and Khadijat Mohammed, who won a national tournament.

"We also have Mubarak Ganiyu, a former top African junior who won this tournament in the past and has shown exceptional development in tennis," she said.

Adigun added, "On this note, we are excited to announce that the 5th edition of the AIF Junior Tennis Championship will take place from August 13 to August 17.

"All matches will be played at the Tennis Section of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, starting at 9:00 a.m. daily.

"Players will compete in the U-12, U-14, and U-16 categories in this year's tournament.

"We are also pleased to continue our commitment to grassroots tennis development by offering the winners of the U-12 category (male and female) a free U.S. training tour.

"Last time, we facilitated a trip for Joel Michael, the U-12 category winner, who spent three months at a training facility in the U.S."

She further mentioned that Michael trained with top-class coaches and facilities, adding that they will continue to develop tennis talent through the championship.

Another board member, Nurudeen Isa, praised the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) for its consistent support of the cadet tournament.

"We commend the NTF for their relentless support in providing logistical backup for the tournament.

"We source players for the tournament through support from the ITF, which also helped sponsor Michael's trip to the U.S.

"We have greater plans for the players, and we will continue to monitor their progress to ensure they reach the peak of their careers," he said.

The 'Most Valuable Player' in the male and female categories of the competition will also receive cash incentives.

Adewale Isa Foundation: Organisers Highlight Gains of AIF Junior Tennis Championship

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