Sports
Jeremiah, Sani-Inabo Pair Storm into VEMP Doubles Quarterfinals
Joel Ajayi
The duo of Benjamin Jeremiah and Yahaya Sani-Inabo advanced to the men’s doubles quarterfinals of the ongoing VEMP National Open Tennis Championship on Tuesday in Abuja.
Playing at Court 4 of the National Tennis Centre, Package B, Moshood Abiola National Stadium, the pair edged past John David and Godgift Timibra with a hard-fought 6-4, 7-6(5) win in the round of 16.
The first set remained level at 2-2 until Jeremiah and Sani-Inabo broke serve to take a 6-4 lead. The second set went down to the wire, finishing 6-6 before the duo clinched the tiebreak 7-6(5), securing their place in the last eight.
Next up, they will face the in-form duo of Daniel Adeleye and Abubakar Yusuf, who comfortably dispatched Endurance Ehiegiamusoe and Saidu Sani-Inabo 6-1, 6-2.
Speaking after the match, Benjamin Jeremiah expressed delight with the outcome:“The game was fine, it went well, and we’re happy with the win. This is my first time playing in this specific doubles competition, although I’ve competed in senior events before. Unfortunately, I didn’t progress far in the singles, getting knocked out in the qualifying rounds,” he said.
His partner, Yahaya Sani-Inabo, also appreciated the tough win:“I thank God for the victory. It wasn’t easy, but we made it through. I’m taking things one match at a time and staying focused. I’m also looking forward to my next singles match against Endurance Ehiegiamusoe and hoping for another win,” he added.
In other doubles matches:
Daniel Adeleye/Abubakar Yusuf defeated Endurance Ehiegiamusoe/Saidu Sani-Inabo 6-1, 6-2.
Lucky Danjuma/Mubarak Ganiyu beat Ezekiel Azi/Dahiru Mohammed 6-1, 4-1 (Retired).
Canice Abua/Musa Mohammed eased past Terry Akuchu/Charles Uwandu 6-1, 6-1.
In a thrilling match, Mathew Abamu/Emmanuel Michael edged Chima Michael/Ikechukwu Iloputa 6-0, 6-7(4), 10-7 to reach the quarterfinals.
The VEMP National Open Tennis Championship features 192 players across men’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s singles, and women’s doubles.
The tournament, which began on July 4, is scheduled to end on July 12.
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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