Offikwu tames Next Generation, moves closer to NCC Tennis League title

Players of Offikwu Team at the weekend continued their quest to clinch this year’s Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) Tennis League title, as they whipped Next Generation in exciting matches played at the Package B of the Abuja National Stadium Tennis Complex.

Sylvester Emmanuel drew the first blood for Offikwu when he hit Sanni Musa Babajo in two straight sets in the first men’s singles match.

With relative ease, Emmanuel clinched the first set 6/2 and Babajo’s efforts earned him an additional game in the second set, but fell 6/3 in less than one hour 46 minutes.

“He (Sanni Babajo) is a good player, I must confess, as he pulled a surprise in the second set. If I had defeated him 6/0, 6/0 that’s when one could have rated him as not being a good. He really fought hard for the five games he pulled off me; and that qualifies him as a good player.

“This NCC tournament has provided a good opportunity for some of us to improve in our games,” Sylvester Emmanuel told The Guardian after the encounter decided at the Centre Court.

In the men’s second singles, Henry Atseye also of the Offikwu Team was ruthless against Next Generation’s Tony Obekpa, who he dismissed 6/3, 6/2.

Up and coming petit player, Favour Moses proved too much for bigger Joy Sunday whom she dismissed in two straight sets 6/2, 6/4 in the Ladies singles to give Offikwu Team 3-0 lead on the first day of the two-day encounter.

In the men’s double, the combination of Shehu Lawal and Christian Paul of Offikwu Team made mincemeat of Next Generation’s pair of Dim Emmanuel and Sylvanus Joel Ajang. They won 6/4, 7/5 to make scores 4-0.

In the reversed singles decided yesterday, Offikwu’s Christian Paul humbled Sylvanus Joel Ajang of Next Generation 6/4, 6/4 and Lawal defeated John Dickson 6/3, 7/5.

“We are working hard for this NCC Tennis League shield. It eluded us last year, and this time, we are not leaving any stone unturned,” Shehu Lawal said.