TPPA dangles U.S. scholarships on young players

Junior tennis activities in Nigeria got a huge boost, at the weekend, with a group, Tennis Players Parents Association (TPPA), declaring its intention to award overseas scholarships to young players.

The group said the scholarship awards are part of its efforts to develop the game in the country.
 
Unveiling the organisation’s programmes at the Lagos Country Club, Ikeja, TPPA President, Segun Aluko, said the agenda of his board is to create an enabling environment that would transform young talents into superstars after being discovered at the grassroots.

Aluko said that TPPA would not stop coordinating and developing junior tennis players in the country, explaining that catching them young is the livewire of any sport that aims at sustaining its pedigree in the domestic and intentional stage.

He stated that TPPA, which was formed in 2019, realised the need to follow up on junior players’ development, because young players fade out with their big dreams of becoming superstars when they get to the senior level, due to improper exposure to more techniques in the sport.

He added that tennis players with great potential should be able to get scholarships to higher institutions abroad, particularly in the U.S, if they meet the standard needed by the body.

“Part of our plans to develop tennis in Nigeria is to make sure that each year, at least four junior players get scholarships to the U.S. through tennis. 

“This will serve as a major incentive for the kids because tennis is not a cheap sport. A new racket costs over N120, 000. This is aside from tennis shoes, strings, grips and balls. 

“Among other objectives of the TPPA, is to make Nigeria the hub of junior tennis in the West African region with countries attending tournaments held in Nigeria. 

“In our activities this year, we are starting with the U-12 Weekend Tennis Challenge billed for October 21 to 23 at the Lagos Country Club, to be followed by a weeklong KK Leasing Junior Tennis Tournament from October 31 to November 6, which has been confirmed.

“The future looks bright for the junior players and tennis generally in Nigeria, as TPPA is committed to changing the story of junior tennis in Nigeria,” Aluko said.