The secretary-general of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Shammah Makpa, has unfolded plans that officials in the racquet sport’s governing body have outlined for the country’s participation in the Davis Cup and other upcoming international competitions.
Sports247 gathered that the first two competitions currently under the NTF’s spotlight are Davis Cup qualifiers for male players and Billie Jean Cup for females, with both events set to be held in August this year.
Makpa revealed further that a couple of talents who were spotted at the just concluded ITF World J30 Junior Tennis Championship (Phase 2) in Abuja will be included in Nigeria’s build-up plan towards both competitions.
The NTF scribe disclosed, “We were planning already, as this programme was going on, to spot new talents. As the competition went on, we were also looking at selecting the best. We want to maintain a kind of chain of progress.”
He then gave specifics about the immediate events ahead of the federation and how they aim to go about putting everything in the right order, towards blending young and older players who will represent Nigeria in both forthcoming competitions.
Makpa added, “In August, we’ll take part in Group 3 of the Davis Cup, which is the ITF World Cup qualifiers for the males. At the same time, for the females, we’ll be taking part in the Billie Jean Cup, which will be coming up in Namibia … also in August.
“So, we are looking forward to having some of the players that took part in this competition. We’ll take the best … one or two of them from this tournament … that will join the elite group.
“That’s how we want to do it, and we’ll keep watching them as they are progressing,” Makpa projected.
Sports247 gathered further that young players under the NTF’s spotlight include Lucky Danjuma, who won the male single event after defeating Oriol Alvarez of Spain 6-0, 6-4 in the men’s final.
A similar focus is on the female category’s winner, Success Ogunjobi, who defeated Luczak Luise of Germany 6-3, 7-5 to clinch the ladies’ title.
Sports247.ng
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