Coach Kenny Adebowale, head coach of Allegrious Mountain Tennis Membership, has expressed deep concern over the dwindling variety of grassroots tennis tournaments in Nigeria, describing it as a significant impediment to the nation’s potential to supply world-class gamers.
Talking with Sports247 in Lagos, Adebowale mirrored on how vibrant the native tennis scene was throughout his enjoying days in comparison with right now’s state of affairs, the place competitions have grow to be uncommon and inconsistent.
“Throughout our personal time, there have been many tournaments — no less than three each month,” he recalled. “However now, it’s troublesome to even discover two in 1 / 4. The dearth of sponsorship has actually affected the expansion and growth of younger skills.”
Past the scarcity of competitions, the veteran coach additionally pointed to a social problem: parental hesitation to permit kids, particularly ladies, to pursue tennis critically.
“Many dad and mom nonetheless see tennis as a pastime, not a profession,” he famous. “Convincing them to let their daughters mix sports activities with schooling is even tougher as a result of they worry it can have an effect on their teachers.”
Adebowale lamented the decline of company sponsorship, which as soon as powered the expansion of tennis in Nigeria
“Gone are the times when huge manufacturers like John Wooden, Gulder, Guinness, Texaco, Bagco sponsored tournaments throughout the nation,” he stated. “We used to have as much as 10 competitions in a season. With out such help, it’s troublesome to supply one other participant like Chibuzor Odizor.”
He urged the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) to revive faculty partnerships and supply a construction that encourages non-public sector involvement.
“If the NTF can work intently with colleges to prepare common competitions, we’ll start to see progress once more. Sports activities must be handled as a part of schooling, not an interruption to it,” he emphasised.
Regardless of the mounting challenges, Adebowale continues to coach younger gamers with dedication and self-sacrifice.
“Generally, we spend our personal money and time simply to maintain these children on the courtroom,” he admitted. “The monetary reward is small, however the pleasure of seeing them enhance retains us going.”
A former nationwide U-18 participant whose promising profession was halted by damage, Coach Adebowale stays dedicated to serving to the following era of Nigerian tennis stars fulfill the goals he as soon as pursued — and to restoring Nigeria’s standing within the sport.
