Posted by By John Egbokhan on
PATRON of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Chief Molade Oyoka-Thomas, has commended Alhaji Bala Yesufu, for his astute devotion to Nigerian tennis development.
PATRON of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Chief Molade Oyoka-Thomas, has commended Alhaji Bala Yesufu, for his astute devotion to Nigerian tennis development.
Chief Okoya-Thomas, who made this observation, during the closing ceremony of the Heineken Futures 11 held at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, described Alhaji Yesufu, ‘as a good man', who is seriously concerned about the need to bring in the desired sponsorship into the nation's tennis scene.
In Chief Thomas' own words "Bala, you are a good man, I repeat, you are a good man who wants Nigerian tennis to grow and we are all living witnesses to the good work you have been doing in the last four years to return life into our tennis.
"I say that you are a good man because your love for tennis growth is not borne out of any selfish desire but because you are a good man who means well for our players' growth. And it must be said that good men like you are rare to come by in our country", added Chief Thomas.
The Lagos socialite, also admonished Alhaji Yesufu, who is a resource board member of the NTF, to intensify efforts to bring in the desired sponsorship into the nation's tennis scene, adding that "most of our players have benefitted, by way of earning ranking points from the tournaments like the Heineken Futures, which we just saw the final match".
On reports that Nigerian Breweries Plc would no longer sponsor the Heineken Futures, Chief Thomas said such a move would not help the development of professional tennis in the country, and he implored Alhaji Yesufu, who is the Export Development Manager of NB Plc, to urge the management of the company not to carry out their planned exit.
"Nigerian Breweries have changed some aspects of our players' careers and we can only hope that they continue improving the fortunes of our players by sustaining this tournament", said Thomas.
Alhaji Yesufu promised to relay the message to the firm even as he expressed hope that NB Plc would be at the vanguard of tennis sponsorship in the country.