Leader of Fusion Sports Foundation, Fuad Quadri, has described the maiden Summer Tennis Clinic/Tournament as a huge success, pledging that the programme will now hold yearly.
Quadri, former Nigerian number one junior player, said his Foundation is out to unearth talented youths with the Summer Clinic, adding, “if we keep organising this summer programme, we can get more than 500 children, who will later turn to stars in future.
“We have seen Mofifunoluwa Atilola in Under 10 and U-12 categories, the Osaji siblings and other talented players that we can nurture for the future.”
Quadri, who is head performance coach at Emirates Tennis Academy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), disclosed his plan to make the clinic a quarterly event, adding that Fusion Tennis Foundation would ensure the kids have the O’ levels, which would make it possible for them to get scholarships to universities in the United States.
In the tournament, which formed part of the programme, Mofifunoluwa Atilola defeated Sunter Ahenjir 4-1, 4-0 in the final of the girls’ U-10 category, while Murewa Egbeyemi beat Malcolm Osaji 2-4, 4-2, 7-4 in the boys’ class.
Destiny Okimaye won the U-18 girls category, while Gbolahan Oladipupo beat Joseph Fortune 9-5 to win the boys’ category. Ndidi Osaji beat Mofifunoluwa Atilola in two straight sets to become the U-12 champion.
Speaking on the programme, president of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Kolade Olutekunbi, said the summer clinic and tournament fits Lagos Lawn Tennis Club’s grassroots development drive.
According to Olutekunbi, “The Summer clinic and tournament attracted more than 150 children, who participated in different categories, from U-4 to U-18.” “We are catching them young because we believe that the character is built when they are much younger.
“That is why the club is partnering the Fusion Tennis Foundation and so many other organisations to ensure that we build tennis out of our kids.”
