ITF Instructor Predicts Bright Future For Nigeria

International Tennis Federation Instructor, Suzie Dyrbus has tipped Nigeria to be among the leading wheelchair tennis playing nation in the world, if the rate of which the game is growing is sustained.

Dyrbus made this submission during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos after conducting an ITF-sponsored coaches/ player’s clinic under the Silver Fund project of the Johan Cruyff Foundation.

The wheelchair tennis expert from England expressed delight with the interest and commitment exhibited by the coaches and players who came from various parts of the country.

“The standard of the game is quite impressive because I saw the Nigerian team at the World Team Cup qualifiers in Kenya and they played so well.

While stating that the ITF is delighted with the significant rise of the game in Nigeria despite a number of challenges, she canvassed for adequate exposure for the country’s players by attending tournaments across the world.

“I have been to several African countries under the same project and I can tell you that there are potential stars of the game in the country. The enthusiasm, I must emphasized is great and what the country need is the adequate exposure of its players by attending international tournaments which would help their game to a higher standard,” Dyrbus submitted.

While stating that the ITF is delighted with the significant rise of the game in Nigeria despite a number of challenges, she canvassed for adequate exposure for the country’s players by attending tournaments across the world.

She promised that the ITF, as follow up to her report, will in the next few months make donations of wheelchairs, racquets, balls and other tennis materials to fast-track the development of the game.

She also appealed to corporate bodies to help in developing the game through procurement of equipments, and sponsorship of tournaments.