Veteran Tennis Player Set To Organise Competition

Nigeria’s most suc
cessful tennis player, Nduka Odizor, says he plans  to take tennis to greater heights by establishing sports’ facilities across the six geo-political zones.
Odizor, who reached his highest rating of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) singles by becoming the world’s number 53 in June 1984, spoke to newsmen yesterday in Lagos.
He noted that the rationale behind his intention was to increase the awareness of sports’ development.
“I know that this is going to take some time to actualise because it is a white elephant project but it is something we need if we must revive sports again.
“Patience will be one major key to this because I found out that Nigerians want everything fast and nature does not happen like that.
“This is so because anything that is worth having; is worth doing well by taking your time in doing it right the first time, not the second time.
“Often times, you may not have the second opportunity to have a first impression,”  Odizor , a.k.a  ”the Duke’’ said.
He told Tidesports that his tennis academy in Abuja had been established with 21 players from ages 6 to 12 years admitted.
“I have started one of my projects, which is the tennis academy I had planned out since my return from the United States.
“I choose to take only the young players because catching them young is best for tennis players and also athletes in other sports.
“The project is currently being test-run with 10 kids under Babatunde Abe, a U.S trained coach in Abuja.
“The kids are given a meal daily and two meals on Saturdays and Sundays. In addition, the kids get weekly allowances,’’ he said.
He added that the school was not just about tennis but a school with normal primary and secondary school curricular.
“They are taught five international languages namely English, French, Chinese, Spanish and Swahili.
“This is done because the truth is that 90 per cent of the kids will never succeed in tennis, but if they are educated and also play tennis, they will have acquired skills that will help them,” he said.
According to him, there have been complaints that government is not living up to its billing, but we keep getting it wrong because government is about people.
“But, if I keep complaining then I’m part of the problem. We have to start something in order to convince others to join us,” he said.