By Jonathan Ugbal
Players in the just concluded Renewed Hope and People’s First National Tennis Open held at the Calabar Sports Club 1898 have commended the organizers of the tourney for treating them in a manner they have never experienced.
The players told newsmen in different interviews that they have not experienced the hospitality they enjoyed in Calabar throughout the tournament.
“For the past years I have been playing tennis, this is the best tournament ever, it is a small gathering, it is not really known, but this is the best tournament ever,” 18-year-old Timipre Maxwell from Bayelsa said. She continued; “The accommodations, the way we’re taken care of, everybody, it is so lovely. No tournament has ever done this, both at the national level and elsewhere.”
Timipre, who ranks number 11 nationally, hailed the Chief Host, and Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, the organizers, coaches and umpires for their care, adding that, “Tennis is a game of love, without Love we can’t go anywhere.”
For John Nubari, the tournament may not have been the toughest he has played, but the memory will linger due to how he was treated.
“It has been a nice one. The surrounding, first of all, is nice, the food, the umpires, and people have been nice to me,” said the 17-year-old.
Furthermore, he averred that; “In Nigeria, we have limited competitions. Bringing this one to Calabar which is very close to me and participating in it has been great and, I want to thank them all. They are doing a great job, impacting the lives of youths.”
Similarly, 20-year-old Rebecca Ekpenyong from Akwa Ibom posited that this is, “a good opportunity for those within the South South region to participate more in tournaments like this. I would like more of this to go on.”
Also, the Captain of the Tennis section of the Calabar Sports Club 1898, Efa Ojong stressed the need for players to be put first, since they are the center of attraction.
“I have been to several tournaments in this country, and this is the first tournament I have been involved in where the players are treated first. I go to other tournaments, it is the coaches, the spectators, it is club members that are treated first. This is the first time that players have been kept in the best hotels, they are so comfortable. Players are fed three times a day, provided with grips, provided with all facilities. This is what we should always encourage. The people that we are coming to watch are the center of the attraction and should be treated as such,” Ojong said.
Earlier, the Chief Host said he has always been a Tennis and Football enthusiast and disclosed that despite his reassignment from the Ministry of Sports Development, he will continue to promote both sports to provide the opportunity for young people “who show talent, who show seriousness, and who are willing to work hard, to get to the zenith of each of these sports.”
Senator Enoh who announced a football tourney for the first quarter of 2025, further explained that his decision to focus on young people is because “early exposure is great, it is good for the game, it is good for the sports because you have a greater likelihood and more time to see how you can get to the top of your career.”
READ MORE: Calabar Sports Club Bags ITF’s UTR Certification As Nubari, Ekpenyong Win National Open
The tourney which drew competitors from the South South region and Abuja saw Nubari win the make segment after beating Precious Aliya 7:6 and 6:2 over two sets to walk home with NGN350,000.
In the female segment, Rebecca rose from losing her first set 2:6 to beating Timipre 6:1 and 6:2 to also head home with NGN350,000.
The tourney which drew spectators from across the country, including Cross River Governor, Senator Bassey Otu who was represented by the Sports Commissioner, Mrs. Agnes Atsu, has now been included in the calendar of events for the annual 32-day long Carnival Calabar and Festivals.