Nigerian, Ghanaian coaches assemble in Lagos for ITF level 1 course

About 40 coaches from Nigeria and Ghana are currently updating their knowledge in tennis at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Level 1 coaches course holding in Lagos.

The nine-day programme, which is coming through the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is facilitated by the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) and according to ITF Instructor, Rotimi Akinloye, the course, which is in two parts, is supported by the ITF through the provision of materials.

Akinloye, who is Nigeria’s national tennis head coach, who runs ITF courses for English-speaking West African countries, disclosed that the course is aimed at producing quality coaches, adding that the programme is under the ITF Coaches Educational Programme (CEP)

“We have had Level 1 and 2 courses before but what makes this particular one unique is that it is coming through the IOC. It means the Nigeria Tennis Federation applied to the IOC through the Nigeria Olympic Committee,” he said.

Akinloye, a former Nigeria tennis captain, added that the essence of the programme is to prepare Nigerian coaches to get modern teaching methodology.

He added, “We are very optimistic our coaches will never remain the same as their philosophy of teaching will change.“In the history of coaching courses in Nigeria, this is the first time we are having coaches from another country taking part. This highlights the high rating of this course.”