By Tejiri Ebikeme
Michael Idoko has won this year’s NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture Junior Masters Tennis Championship as he defeated Niyi Olatunde in two straights of 6-4 and 6-4 at the of Lord Rumens Centre Court of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club to emerge the winners of the 14th edition of the competition.
The final game lived up to its billing as the two contestants, who are top rated West Africa junior players exhibited enthralling skills and powerful serves, aces and wonderful backhand strokes which were applauded by tennis fans at the Nigerian primo tennis club.
At the end of an entertaining game, it was Michael who stepped up to receive the trophy from Margaret Neff Clay, the wife of the Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria Limited.
“I am glad to have come out top. Niyi is a good player. I respect him because game involving us is usually difficult to predict. It can go to either person” Michael stated.
The participants of NNPC/Chevron Tennis championship usually the champions and runners-up of each state of the federation and trainees of Chevron Tennis Clinic.
In his address Chairman and Managing Director Clay Neff of Chevron Nigeria Limited, said the “NNPC/Chevron JV sees the Junior Masters as a worthy investment that confers benefits on our youth by enhancing their physical and mental wellbeing, as well as stimulating their instincts for healthy competition.
“Beyond just competing against each other, the Junior Masters Tournament allows the youths of our nation to forge bonds of friendships that would enable them to share ideas, and work together in building the nation of our dreams. For these and many other reasons we remain committed to continued sponsorship of this annual tournament”, Mr. Neff added.
Mr. Deji Haastrup, General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA), had earlier in his address thanked all those who had contributed to the success of the NNPC/Chevron Junior Masters Tournament since its inception in 2000. “We are excited about the contribution of this programme to the development of the mental and physical capacities of Nigerian youths and the revival of tennis in the country,” he said.
