Dearth Of Activities Stalls Wheelchair Tennis Dev

A Nigerian player (right) trying to dribble past a Congolese oppoenent when both teams clashed in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

Kayode Savage, an As
sistant Coach with the national Wheelchair Tennis team, has  Kayode Savage  attributed the poor development of the sport in the country to dearth of activities
Savage  said e that there had not been competition organised for players and technical course for officials since the beginning of the year.
According to him, there is no way players’ skills can be appraised if they are denied the opportunity of taking part in competitions.
“We entered the year with high expectations of having series of programmes for the players and officials, but I am sad that all through the first half of the year nothing was done.
“Even with the worsening situation of lack of fund, they should endevour to hold at least one championship in a quarter, it will keep the sport alive and players will be active.
“The significant way of motivating players to be consistent in their career is by staging competitions whereby they can exhibit their skills and we evaluate them,’’ he said.
The coach added that, the general development of the sport in the country would be in jeopardy, stressing that wheelchair tennis needed awareness at the grassroots.
He said that organising quarterly competitions in the country would help to attract athletes from within to familiarise and socialise with one another.
“Competitions can bring our upcoming athletes together where they will meet and interact with one another like one big family,’’ he added.
He recommended that corrective measures should be adapted to make-up for lost programmes in addition to the ones listed for the remaining part of the year.