The 2016 NCC Tennis League will kick-off Saturday September 10 with a cracker between defending champions Team Tombim and star-studded debutants Team Offikwu at the tennis centre of the Abuja National Stadium.
Team Tombim which bagged N5 million for the 2015 victory has in its fold, Moses Michael, current national No.1, Christian Paul, the highest ranked ATP player in Nigeria and Sarah Adegoke who has dropped to No.4 in the Ladies’ ranking.
Others are Henry Atseye, former national champion, Christopher Edward, Christie Mbadiwe and Loveth Donatus.
Team Offikwu will be in Abuja with the Emmanuel brothers – Sylvester, national No.2 and Sunday, USA-based former national No.1, who is in Nigeria to take part in the league.
Others in the Offikwu team are Bikom Albert, Emmanuel Idoko, Anu Aiyegbusi and Aminat Quadri.
Matches are scheduled to start 10 am on Saturday with two men’s singles followed by the Ladies singles and the men’s doubles. The Tie will be concluded Sunday with the men’s reverse singles and the mixed doubles.
The prize money for this year has been increased with the winner earning N7 million, the runner-up N5 million, third place N3 million and fourth place N2 million.
Ten teams are taking part in this year’s edition.
The NCC Tennis League besides taking top level tennis to various parts of Nigeria is empowering Nigerian youth to make the transition to world professional tennis where they can create wealth for themselves, their families and the nation.
