Ghana/Nigeria tennis tourney ends in grand style

IT was a lively atmosphere at the tennis section of Ikoyi Club 1938 as the 10th Ghana/Nigeria international championship ended in grand style.

Though the Nigerian team confirmed its superiority over its Ghanaian counterpart in the event, the championship further cemented the long existing ties between the two nations.

In his address, tennis section chairman, Chike Orjiako, commended the visitors for their sportsmanship, adding that the event would continue to oil the wheel of friendship among the participants, and engender global harmony through recreation.

The 60-man Accra Lawn Tennis Club team was treated to an exciting moment with lots of entertainment by their hosts, with the players competing in nine events at the tourney.

The initiator of the event, Nigeria's former High Commissioner to Ghana, Sam Okechukwu, listed the essence of the tourney as including creating an informal forum where leaders of the two nations interact and foster relationship on personal level.

Okechukwu further narrated how the event started: "During one of my frequent visits to the Tennis Section of Ikoyi Club 1938 on the invitation of my brother, Sir Nath Okechukwu, he suggested that it would be a good idea if a tennis tournament was arranged between Ikoyi Club and Accra Tennis Club. "I was then the High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Republic of Ghana. I immediately bough the idea. I got back to Accra and discussed the bright idea with my colleagues in the High Commission and senior officers of the Ghana Tennis Club and they were all excited as myself. "A date acceptable to both sides for the maiden tournament was fixed and the event took place in Accra. Ghana Tennis Club won the Cup, which was donated by my office, after keen but friendly competition. This is the genesis of what we are celebrating today."

Events competed for were men's singles, doubles and mixed doubles, while the ladies competed in the singles and doubles. Veterans jostled for honours in the singles and doubles, while the super veterans for players above 60 also had the singles and doubles.

Being the 10th anniversary, Nigeria, which won of this year's event, will keep the grand trophy donated by the initiator. Players that did Nigeria proud at the event included Bimbo Okubena, Walter Eze and Godwin Kienka. The ladies' campaign was spearheaded by Julie Shawon, who is also the ladies captain of the tennis section.