Abuja – National Junior Tennis Coach, Ubale Mohammed, on Saturday in Abuja, released the final list of 24 players who would represent Nigeria in the Africa Junior Tennis Championship (AJC).
The tournament would hold in Abuja from Sunday to Jan. 18, 2016.
Mohammed told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Package B of the National Stadium, Abuja, that the selection of the team was based on the performances of the players.
He disclosed that the list comprised 12 boys and 12 girls, and had the country’s two international players, Angel Macleod and Adetayo Adetunji.
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“Macleod is in camp with us, though she lost her mum. The burial was on Friday and she will return to camp today (Saturday).
“We also have Adetunji, who has also reported in camp. She has been in the U.S and South Africa before coming to Nigeria to join the team on Thursday,’’ he said.
The coach said that the players were grouped into two teams for the tournament, with Team A having Christopher Itodo and Bulus Christopher (boys) and Adetayo Adetunji and Angel Macleod (girls) for the U-16 category.
In U-14 category are Micheal Osewa and Gabriel Friday, Barakat Quadre and Marylove Edward.
Daniel Adeleyi and Suleiman Ibrahim, Timipre Maxwell and Rebecca Peter would participate in U-12 group.
Team B, according to the list, comprised Peter Lawal and David Amuzu, Maryam Balogun and Toyisi Adeosi in U-16; Musa Sani and Saminu Abubakar, Toyin Asojba and Chidimma Eze for U-14.
U-12 has Gabriel Richard and Fillipo Trombi for the males and Oiza Yakubu and Fortune Joseph for the females.
Mohammed said that the players were ready for the tournament.
“We have noticed a lot of improvement from the players because they are learning the basic technical and tactical skills. We are all working towards the goal of qualification.
“The players are in camp at the High Performance Centre of the National Sports Commission (NSC) at the Abuja National Stadium, with all the basic needs in place.
“Medical personnel are in camp with us, and we have food and other basic equipment, which will assist us to prepare well for the tournament; all things are in place.
“So, we are good to go, even though we have recorded few injuries. By the grace of God, before the tournament, everything will be okay,’’ he said.
NAN reports that Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, DR Congo, Cote d’Ivoire are among the 16 countries participating in the championship.
Others are Ghana, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia and Rwanda.
Eight players, four males and four females, will advance to the next stage of the tournament which will hold in South Africa between March 8 and March 17. (NAN)
Mohammed selects 24 tennis players for Abuja AJC
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