Nigerian youths, at the weekend, affirmed their readiness to take the country back to top international tennis circuits with masterclass displays at the CBN Junior Tennis Championships, which ended at the Lagos Lwan Tennos Club, Onikan, on Saturday.

The week-long championships saw two 11-year-olds stealing the limelight from their older opponents. Goodluck Tersoo of Team Benue won titles across two age groups – the boys’ 12s and 14s – while Mofi Atilola won the girls’ 14s and was semifinalist in the girls’ 16s. Both were named the most outstanding players of the tournament.

Tersoo with the heart of a lion to match his fabulous skills, dropped the first set in the five set super tiebreak decider against the defending champion Ikem, Amasiani from Abuja in the boys’ 12 final, but recovered to win 8-10, 11-9, 10.8, 10-5.   

He also dropped a set against Lagos-based Isa Yahaya in the boys 14s event but also came through 11-9, 2-10, 10-5, 10-8. Yahaya who did not take the loss to a younger opponent lightly, cried all the way to the presentation ceremony.

Atilola on the other hand, had recorded a sensational comeback victory against Ndidi Osaji in the girls’ 16s to qualify for the semifinals, but found Aina Goodnews from Ekiti too strong for her at the moment.

She, however, overran Bisola Ogunkolade from the Ekiti State team 10-0, 10-5, 10-0 in the girls’ 14s finals.David Edwards won the boys’ 16s title, using his ferocious one-handed backhand to outclass Dubem Amasiani.

Edwards dropped the first set against the U-14 champion, who decided to try his skills in a higher age group before winning 2-10, 10-6, 10-7, 10-6.
Other winners on the final day were Gloria Samuel, who beat teammate Aina Goodnews in five sets and Success Godwin from the Lagos Mainland Club, who defeated Mabubat Rasaki from Oyo State in the U12 girls.

Speaking at the end of the tournament, an elated International Tennis Academy (ITA) Director, Godwin Kienka, whose outfit organises the ITA Junior Tennis Circuit, said it proved once again that the junior base of tennis talent is well established and compares to any standard in the world. 
“If these boys and girls have the right support, guidance and training, it will only be a matter of time before they start competing at the senior levels of major tournaments in the world,” he said.