Joshua Maxwell and Amaechi Favour have emerged champions of the Rivers East Senatorial district under-13 Catch Them Young Tennis Competition that took place at the number five field at Niger Street, Port Harcourt.
The Competition was the brainchild of the Rivers State Tennis Association led by Ikenna Okafor.
Joshua Maxwell defeated Tochukwu Okafor 7-3 in the finals of the boy’s event while Amaechi Favour beat Juanita Mueke 9-3 in the girl’s category.
The Chairman of Rivers State Tennis Association, Ikenna Okafor said the aim of the tournament is to develop the game of tennis at the grassroots. Ikenna Okafor noted that the association wants tennis to be played in every nooks and cranny of Rivers State, stressing that they will continue to nurture the talented youngsters to stardom.
He also directed the Head Coach of Rivers State Tennis Association Tom Ikiri to draw out a programme to continue to train the youngsters at the number five field tennis court at Niger Street, Port Harcourt.
Ikenna Okafor also commended the Commissioner of Sports Rivers State Hon. Boma Iyaye for the support he gave to the association before and during the organization of the catch them young tennis competition
In his comment, Rivers State Sports Commissioner, Hon Boma Iyaye commended the Chairman of the Rivers State Tennis Association, Mr Ikenna Okafor for his giant strides in taking the sport to the next level in the State.
Hon Iyaye who was a special guest at the finals of the U13 tournament at the Number Five field in Port Harcourt said positive developments have been recorded since Okafor took the reins of the Tennis Association in Rivers State.
Speaking to journalists after the tournament, Hon Iyaye described Okafor as a square peg in a square hole.
“I knew that Ikenna Okafor would do a lot to improve a lot of the sport in the State because he is a square peg in a square hole.
“This tournament for young Tennis players will go a long way in helping the country produce great champions in the future.
“About thirty years ago, I started playing Tennis as a youngster and even though I never went on to become a professional Tennis player, I am hoping that these young boys and girls I see today will develop to become potential world beaters,” he said.
Boma Iyaye during the event also dissolved the management committee of the number five field. He said that the reason for the dissolution of the committee was due to what he termed infrastructural mismanagement.
