Atilola wins CBN Junior Tennis’ outstanding player award despite failed double bid

Although Mofi Atilola failed in his bid to win two age categories at the just-concluded CBN Junior Tennis Championship, at the weekend, the judges found the emerging tennis whizkid good enough for the “Most Outstanding Player award.

Atilola had her drive to win two titles in two age category breached in the Girls’ 16 finals where the number two seed, Goodnews Aina from Ekiti played with a lot of determination to win 6-4, 6-2.

Atilola, who easily won the Girls’ 14s title on the same day, beating Success Godwin 6-1, 6-2,  was given a wild card to also play in the Girls’ 16 with the aim of fast tracking her progress.

She beat the number four seed, Favour Effiong James from Uyo-based GEUF Academy in the decisive group match and then the number one seed, Gloria Samuel in the semifinals to reach the final.

The most outstanding player for the boys was awarded to Issah Yahaya, the Boys’ 14s champion from the Mainland Tennis Club Lagos, who was similarly given a wild card to play one age group up and reached the semifinal in the Boys’ 16, where he was stopped by eventual winner, Seyi Ogunsakin, in straight sets.

Yahaya, however, won the Boys’ 14s, beating his club teammate, Joel Michael, in three sets.

The team from Bayelsa, to the surprise of many at the finals, took the Boys’ 12s and Girls’ 12s titles in close matches.

Ogoniba Excellency beat Emmanuel Ogungbe from Ogun State 6-3, 6-4, while Karina Opuene rallied from a set behind to beat Mabubat Rasaki of Oyo State in three sets.

“The performance of Atilola and Yahaya is a great lesson to parents and coaches, who reduce the ages of their wards to try to win undeserved titles that, they are merely retarding the progress of their children and wards,” director of the International Tennis Academy (ITA), organisers of the championship, Godwin Kienka, told the media after the presentations.

He added: “We are confident that in five years, all things being equal, Nigeria will have players on the ATP and the WTA tours.”