By Aderemi Bamgbose
Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, wife of the Ondo State governor says several tennis potentials abound at the grassroots who are ready to be furture world champions to win laurels for the state and the country at large.
She said concerted efforts shouod be geared towards discovering the young talents, nurture them and expose them to routine training for them to be great world champions in the future.
Anynawu-Akeredolu, who was represented by Mrs Mercy Akinrinwa, wife of the Chaurman, Okitipupa Local Government Area (LGA) made the remarks on Monday in Okitipupa during the closing ceremony of Ondo State Summer Tennis Clinic.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Anyawu-Akerdolu personally flagged off the 5th edition of the tennis clinic on Aug. 15, at Stella Maris College, Okitipupa.
According to her, this clinic is essential to identify and develop talents in our children and also encourage sports development among youths in the state particularly at the grassroots level.
“It is also important to discover and develop potentials of the young ones at the grassroots who are capable of becoming world champions.in the future.
“The gains of this sport is numerous because young kids can become champions, catapulted from poverty and obscurity and launched to the world stage where they are being celebrated and applauded constantly.
“The benefits of catching them young can not be overemphasied because champions like Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, Roger Federal and Billie Jean King have won numerous laurels in the world,” Anyawu-Akeredolu said.
She, however, solicited for supports through donations of cash and equipment for the continuity and sustainability of tennis clinic in the southern district of the state.
NAN reports that no fewer than 26 potentials were discovered out of 320 children ranging from four to 13 years, who participated at the clinc as the new potentials would be drafted to the Arabinrin Junior Tennis Club for further training in order to carve their niche in the sport.
NAN also reports that participants were selected from the six LGA’s in the southern district of the state: Okitipupa, Irele, Odigbo, Ilaje, Ese-Odo and Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo LGA’s. (NAN