Speaker Gets Commendation For Promoting Tennis

The Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Tonye Harry has again been commended for promoting sports, especially, tennis in the state.

The Chairman, Organising Committee of the 2nd Port Harcourt Open Tennis Championship, Mr Mark Yebufra made the assertion while speaking with sports Journalists soon after the end of the tournament at the Port Harcourt Club tennis section, recently.

Mr Yebufra observed that the efforts of the speaker had in no small measure brought sports, especially tennis, into focus and enjoined other sports loving citizens of the state to emulate such gesture.

He  disclosed that the winners of the female category of the just-concluded Port Harcourt Open Tennis Championship were products of the speaker’s tennis academy, expressing optimism that they would make the state proud during the National Sports Festival coming up in the state later in the year.

According to him, the state is blessed with talented sportsmen and women that could win laurels, but regretted that most of them lacked opportunities to be discovered and developed.

He appealed for sponsorship from corporate organisations and public spirited individuals, since government alone cannot promote and develop all sports.

Mr Yebufra further stated that efforts would be intensified to ensure that Rivers State haul all the medals in tennis during the festival, pointing out that the youths of the state must be encouraged at all cost to curb them from engaging in acts inimical to the norms of the society.

He thanked the speaker for facilitating the sponsoring of the 2nd Port Harcourt Open Tennis tournament which was recorded impressive attendance from across the country.

Collins Barasimeye