All around the courts surrounded by the filled-up spectator terraces, tennis enthusiasts, state athletes and neutrals boisterously cheered and clapped as the young players applied themselves to the quest for medals. Singles, doubles and mixed doubles were all going on, and all nine states desire podium finish for their men and women representatives. The renovated tennis arena at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Edo State capital, has had its shine restored and most of the young players could hardly hide their excitement at playing on such standard courts.
‘That is the essence of the Niger Delta Games, providing a platform for young ones from the villages and towns of in the Niger Delta region to be exposed to facilities that can accelerate their talent development”, Chairman of the Main Organising Committee of the second edition of the games, Itiako Ikpokpo said with a look of satisfaction.
What really caught the attention of the spectators to the venue was the number of young kids fighting hard on the court and at times against bigger opponent. With the age bracket pegged at 20 years for the games, many expected the states to parade athletes between 18 and 20. But the opposite was the case at the tennis arena with so many kids, especially in the ladies, competing for honour.
For 10-year-old Karina Opuene of Bayelsa State, despite losing out in the second round of the ladies’ singles, she may not have felt disappointment having picked up valuable lessons that would enrich her experience from the campaign.
A Primary 6 pupil of Immaculate Ideas Academy, Yenagoa, in the Bayelsa State capital, Opuene was a bit nervous when approached for a media chat, exposing her naivity at this level. But, she’s no novice in tennis trends and readily named her role model in the game as the current world No. 1 player, Aryna Sabalenka.
Surprisingly, Opuene’s not really an unknown quantity, having represented Nigeria at U-12 tournaments around Africa and looking forward to playing at the grand slam level, while looking forward to become another Serena Williams, dominating tennis grand slam for several years,
Edo State tennis prodigy, Lorelay Holzendorff exuded confidence as she smashed her way into the semifinals where she will meet Etorro Bassey of Akwa-Ibom State.
The teen looked poised to win the top prize in the second edition of the Niger Delta Games, as she expressed her ambitions to toe the path of former tennis queen, Serena Williams to dominate the world stage for years. Holzendorff is obviously enjoying herself at the games.
The pleasant looking young girl narrated: ‘It has been fun and an experience for me as a player’.
‘I have been able to make new friends, although this is not my first tournament, especially in Nigeria. But I am taking part in the Niger Delta Games for the first time.
‘It has taken my hard work to get to where I am now, and I am looking forward to my opponent and getting to the final.
‘I see playing tennis as a path to a good career for me, and my target is to make a name for myself and to play at the European level and not just in Nigeria’.
On Monday, Wisdom Chibuzor of Abia State played Rahman Ahmed of Ondo State for a chance to meet the winner of the second semifinal game involving Obinna Chinedu of Abia State and Wisdom Effiong of Akwa Ibom State for a place in the final.
The ladies’ single semis would be contested between Etorro Bassey (Akwa-Ibom) and Hozendorff (Edo) with the second semis happening between Suwa Nenrot (Edo) and Favour James (Akwa Ibom).
