Following Canice Abua’s sensational title-run in the first leg of the NTF International Junior World Tennis Tour in Abuja last Sunday, the NTF Technical Director and National Coach, Rotimi Akinloye, has heaped praise on the youngster, lauding his tenacity and dedication to the game.
Abua, who turns 15 on the 15th of November, made a stunning run from the qualifiers through the boys singles main draw to clinch the title without surrendering a set.
Canice defeated home boy Musa Mohammed of Abuja Tennis Club 7/5, 6/4 to win the first leg of while in the female category Nigeria Edwards Marylove, top seed beat number two seed Ivorian Bohoussou Minet 7/5 6/2 6/1 in a game that lasted over two hours.
“I have to really commend his tenacity,” Coach Akinloye said. “He gave it all and he went through the tournament as a rookie. Nobody gave him a chance but he gave himself that believe and chance to achieve what he did.”
Coach Akinloye also talked about the youngster’s dedication to the sport, revealing that ever since he took to tennis, he’s been “very enthusiastic in learning”.
“It might interest you that we were neighbors and we tried to bring him to this club [Abuja Country Club]. Since then, he has been very enthusiastic in learning the trade of tennis and he’s been an unassuming person and he’s been working hard silently.
“When you look at him, he is a humble guy, he is not someone who is found wanting in training. The sky will be his limit.
