By Aderemi Bamgbose
No fewer than 320 children on Tuesday participated in the 5th edition of Ondo State Summer Tennis Clinic in order to nurture talents from the grassroots to stardom,.
The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that the state governor’s wife, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, had flagged off the clinic on Monday at the Stella Maris College in Okitipupa, Okitipupa Local Government Area.
The Coordinator of the clinic in Okitipupa, Mr Seun Betiku, told NAN that the eight-day clinic would identify raw talents from the grassroots, train, nurture and guide them to stardom.
He also said that participants at the clinic organised and funded by Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu’s wife, were eager and willing to learn.
According to Betiku, 500 talents being targeted from the Southern Senatorial District of the state will be trained in the sports.
“The clinic has been holding in Akure especially the first to fourth edition but Mrs Anyawu-Akeredolu said she wanted to extend it to the southern part of the state and that was why she flagged it off here yesterday.
“The aim of the governor’s wife was to discover raw talents from grassroots, nurture them and harness their potential until they get to stardom to represent the state or country in the future.
“We have about 320 children here today participating in this clinic; we will discover them and train them for them cutting edge in tennis,” Betiku said.
Meanwhile, Coach Rotimi Obe, also told NAN that the children, who were in groups of four to seven years and eight to 13 years were catching up rapidly with the training.
He said that most of the children sprung surprises at the tennis court, adding that it would have been a great disservice if the the talents were left untapped.
“These children are catching up fast as most of them spring surprises on the court today. I think we will get lots of future champions here who will represent the state and country at large,” Obe said.
NAN also reports that an the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency, Prince Jimmy Odimayo, who expressed his support programme donated sports vests.
According to the organisers, the programme will the rounded off on Aug. 22. (NAN)(www.nannewsngr.com)