14th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis For 17-22 November

 

The 2014 edition of the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship will hold from 17-22 November at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

The tournament initially threatened by the outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Lagos, will be staged this time around to accommodate only African players.

Relevant officials in the organisation of the annual tournament which enters its 14th edition this year; the Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF, headed by Engr. Sani Ndanusa and the Local Organising Committee, LOC chaired by Chief Pius Akinyelure, have since begun preparations to stage an ‘Abridged Governor’s Cup in order to avoid a vacuum of the 2014 edition.’

Tournaments Director, Prince ‘Wale Oladunjoye said that “we thank God that we have been able to successfully contain the Ebola virus disease that was unfortunately imported into our country.

This has necessitated our resolve to reconsider the organisation of the Governor’s Cup with an abridged version of invitational tourney with participants coming only from the African continent because the time is too short for us to make it an ITF-approved competition.

“We are expecting 12 Nigerian best players in both men and women’s categories with stars from other 20 African countries which had been taken part in the previous editions. The LOC will provide accommodation for the players, while there are attractive prize monies for winners.”

Prince Oladunjoye, Principal Senior Assistant on Grassroots Sports Development to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, called on the partners and sponsors of the tournament to quickly reinforce their usual support to the successful organisation of the Abridged Governor’s Cup.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Gloria Ukwemkpu, Secretary General of the NTF confirmed the staging of the Governor’s Cup, saying “only players within the continent will be invited to attend this year’s tournament. Plans are in top gear to make the official announcement that we’ll stage the tournament.”

President of the tennis federation, Ndanusa, who is also the President of Nigerian Olympic Committee, NOC, noted that “ATP points will not be won  in the tournament this year, but we are sure to give the players their prize monies and encourage competitive rivalry among players on the African continent..

“We are always happy to work with the sponsors  and the LOC to move our tennis forward and I can assure you that there are better packages for our players in this competition this year.”