Martins-Ake, Akinyeju, others Honoured With Award Of Excellent By Ogun Tennis Association 

 

 

A former senior Tennis coach in Ogun state, Kehinde Martins-Ake and Director, Southlake Tennis Centre, Texas, USA, Wole Festus Akinyeju have been honoured with a Meritorious Award of Excellence by the Ogun State Tennis Association, for their outstanding contributions to the development and growth of Tennis in Nigeria and ogun State in particular.

Others that were also named for similar honours are Coach with Shaw University in America, Sunday Enitan and Ogun State tennis coach, Kehinde Ijaola.

The Award presentation was done at the conclusion of a 2-day workshop tagged, “Modern Day Tennis Coaching,” organized by the Ogun State Tennis Association.

The workshop, which took place at the Green Court, (Tennis Section) of the Abeokuta Sports Club, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital attracted tennis coaches across the state, with Coach Rotimi Akinloye as the lead instructor and Wole Festus Akinyeju, Director, Southlake Tennis Centre, as facilitator.

In his speech, the Association’s secretary, Olusola Afolabi said that, the award was made possible for the identified individuals, who were once tennis players of repute both nationally and internationally for their excellence performances and continued contributions to the game.

The facilitator, Coach Akinyeju, explained that, the recipients exemplified excellence, leadership, respect and a true love for the sport of tennis and the art of coaching, emphasizing that, the award showcased people who have inspired generations of young players and fellow coaches to grow in the sport of tennis across the globe.

“The recipients tutored players who have represented Nigeria and the African continent and won laurels. They deserved all the accolades, love, and appreciation.” He said

Speaking on the purpose of the workshop, Akinyeju maintained that the impact was going to be positive, at least with time.

“I decided to return home to give back to the community that made me and contribute to the growth of tennis in Nigeria.

“What you tell players will make or mar them, so coaches must be up to date with new methodologies, both technically and tactically as well as be ready to exchange ideas to be able to transfer right knowledge to the players.” He said.

“Again, in tennis, programmes and sponsorship drive growth. Without it, there is nothing anyone can achieve in tennis. it is very important to have a series of programmes that would attract corporate sponsors through which players can be developed.” He added.

The duo, Coach Kehinde Ijaola, the Ogun State Tennis Coach and a former tennis coach in the state, Kehinde Martins-Ake, whom were recipients of the awards, said, mentorship programmes will be instituted at the local and state levels in order to sustain legacies of the founding fathers of the game.

According to them, such gesture would expose talented tennis players in Ogun State to modern day technical and tactical strategies to stay above board in any of their national and international engagements particularly as Ogun state prepares to host National Sports Festival.

Speaking further, they promised to remain useful towards the discovery and development of players as well as use their experiences to help the players achieve impartation of techniques and match place situations, which are crucial to developing players across all levels for local, state, national, and international engagements.

All the coaches who participated at the workshop were given the certificates of participation.

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