Ex-international player and current chairman of Benue State Lawn Tennis Association, Victor Hemba, has revealed an ambitious strategy he has set in motion to make ‘The Food Basket’ a busy hub for the game of aces in Nigeria as a whole, Sports247 reports.
Hemba provided details of his plans while throwing more light on the maiden tennis camp named in honour of the state’s governor, Hyacinth Allia, which started on Monday at Aper Aku Stadium and will climax with a mini-competition final on August 24th.
The former player, who is also a member of the board of Nigerian Tennis Federation (NTF), representing North-Central, further enthused that the camp will lead to the discovery of new talents and appealed to parents to allow their children participate freely in sports.
Hemba expatiated, “You will be making the biggest mistake if you deny your children the opportunity to participate in sports, because it is where the world is shifting to now. Sports is a multi- billion dollar business.”
He also threw more light on the mini-competition that will flow alongside the camp, in what he described as a virile platform for unearthing more hidden talents for the sport in Benue State.
“The tournament will be under the mentorship of great tennis coaches and resource persons who will mentor the children on developing their interests in tennis, because some of them start very well but, along the line, they become very big and feel they are local champions.
“Through this programme, they will receive mentorship training on what sports is all about, and it will also prepare their minds to know that it is no longer a bird’s course because the birds have flown high,” Hemba philosophised.
The former national team player went on to reveal ongoing efforts to bring the state government into funding more tennis programmes, with a view towards enhancing the prospects of Makurdi playing host to major competitions and attracting international stars on visits.
Hemba recounted, “Since I came back to Benue State in 2000 from Lagos, we have been working hard to boost tennis and see the benefits that the game attracts. I have been trying to set up a formidable team.
“That was why we were able to win a gold medal in tennis at the National Sports Festival in Lagos. It was through the efforts that I deliberately worked hard for. We have been continuously grooming players independently.
“It has been very tough for us, and that is why we are trying to bring the government into the fold to partner us. After our partnership with the government, we intend to also host all the states of the north-central zone for a tournament in Makurdi.”
