Team Offikwu lift NCC Tennis League Cup

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) sponsored grand finale Cup Tennis Tournament 2016 has ended in Lagos with Team Offikwu emerging as the champion and taking home star prize of N7million after upsetting the defending champions, Tombim in an exciting tennis match at Lagos Lawn Tennis Club (LLTC), Onikan.
Tombim took home N5million as Team Civil Defence won the Third place prize of N3million. Team FCT came fourth and got N2million as prize money.
Speaking at the tournament which had Chief Alex Ekwueme, former vice president of Nigeria; Barrister Rotimi Edu, chairman, LLTC; Nduka Odizor and Barrister Solomon Dalung, Minister of Youth and Sports, among other dignitaries in attendance commended NCC for following the policy direction of the government in calling for public, private partnership in the development of sports in Nigeria.
In his remarks, Professor Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) described the feat as a total accomplishment on the part of NCC following the excitement and personalities that graced the grand finale.
Danbatta who was represented by Mr. Reuben Muoka, head of Public Relations at the Commission said, “The Minister of Sports in particular has followed up with us from the beginning of the fixtures to the finals. He attended and sat through every match. That was a great support to what NCC is doing. NCC is encouraged. We are happy the way it turned as the best team emerged the winner. This team is new in the tournament and they actually invited players even from abroad.
“The NCC tennis league has come to a stage when teams buy players, and giving home-based players succour. The league has brought about stiff competition and the best Nigerian players are participating too.”
The final match of the tournament between Sylvester Emmanuel representing Team Offikwu, the highest ranked Nigerian on the ATP circuit, and Moses Michael, national champion and representing Team Tombim ended at 6-2; 6-1 in favour of Team Offikwu.
Speaking to Extra Time after collecting the trophy, Emmanuel commended NCC for organizing the tournament which instilled glamour to the tennis calendar in Nigeria, stressing that in the past local players complained of lack of competitions, but the NCC tournament and others have kept them busy.