Sports
Taking Nigerian Tennis to an Enviable Position is My Target – Victor Ochei
Joel Ajayi
The presidential aspirant and board member representing sponsors and philanthropists on the board of the Nigeria Tennis Federation, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, has declared that his primary goal is to reposition Nigerian tennis and elevate it to an enviable global standard if given the opportunity to lead the federation.
Ochei made this known while speaking as a guest on the popular AM Sports programme on NTA, Thursday in Abuja.
According to him, his passion for sports development stems from years of involvement in empowering athletes, particularly persons with disabilities, through initiatives such as wheelchair basketball.
If elected as president of the Tennis Federation, Ochei pledged to restore the glory days by developing grassroots talent, improving infrastructure, and building an ecosystem that supports both players and officials.
“My vision is to bring tennis back into national focus — to make it as exciting and unifying as football. I bring experience, exposure, and valuable contacts both locally and internationally. Sports are not just about competition; they’re also about entertainment, and we must make tennis entertaining again,” he stated.
He stressed that Nigerian athletes deserve a sustainable career path in sports, with proper sponsorships, endorsements, and career management to ensure long-term well-being even after retirement.
“Too often, our athletes give their all, only to struggle later in life. That narrative must change — and that’s what I aim to do,” Ochei concluded.
According to him, the future of Nigerian tennis lies in strategic development, inclusivity, and passion, and his mission is to make Nigeria a strong contender on the world tennis stage.
Reflecting on his journey in sports development, Ochei said that the joy of giving people a new lease on life remains one of his most rewarding achievements.
Turning to tennis, he emphasized that the sport in Nigeria needs a complete revival.
“Many see tennis as an elite sport, but I see a deeper opportunity. It’s unfortunate that when you look at global tennis rankings — ATP or WTA — you hardly find Nigerians, or even Africans. Apart from a few South Africans, our presence is minimal,” he lamented.
He further recalled the golden years of Nigerian tennis, citing names like Nduka Odizor, who once ranked world No. 84 — the nation’s highest achievement in the sport.
“Back then, international players came from all over the world to play in Lagos tournaments. Our courts were full of life. I remember in 1984 watching David Imonitie and Sadiq Abdullahi play at the Ikoyi Club — the passion was electrifying. But somehow, that spark faded,” Ochei said.
Sports
Plateau Vipers, Benue Queens Crowned Champions at HFN North Central Division One Tourney
Joel Ajayi
The President of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), Jibril Seidu, has said the federation will continue to intensify its grassroots talent development drive through zonal competitions across the country.
Seidu stated this on Saturday in Abuja at the finals of the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship, where Plateau Vipers defeated Suleja Shooters 29-24 to emerge champions in the men’s category.
In the women’s final, Benue Queens of Makurdi defeated City Queens of Suleja to claim the title.
The eight-day tournament featured teams from across the North Central Zone, with Plateau Vipers of Jos, Confluence Stars of Lokoja, Unity Boys of Abuja, Suleja Shooters and Nasarawa Ambassadors of Lafia competing in the men’s category.
In the women’s category, Nuela Handball Academy of Ilorin, Inikpi Babes of Idah, Benue Queens of Makurdi and City Queens of Suleja competed for honours.
At the end of the competition, four teams — two male and two female — emerged as the North Central Zone’s representatives for the national Division One league.
According to Seidu, the tournament was organised as part of the federation’s deliberate strategy to take handball development back to the regions and discover talents that might otherwise remain unnoticed.
He said the HFN board, inaugurated on October 25, 2025, resolved that grassroots development was essential to creating a sustainable pipeline of players for national and international competitions.
“All the teams you have seen here are from the North Central Zone of the country, and every state is represented with an academy or state team,” he said.
Seidu explained that the new approach marked a departure from the previous system, where talent identification was largely centred on the federation’s major league competitions.
He said taking competitions to the regions would provide young players with greater opportunities to showcase their abilities while strengthening the foundation of handball across the country.
The HFN president also linked the grassroots initiative to Nigeria’s recent achievements in international handball, stressing the need to develop younger players who can eventually replace members of the current national teams.
He noted that Nigeria had qualified for the 2027 Men’s Junior Handball World Championship in North Macedonia, describing the achievement as evidence of the potential within the country’s handball system.
“How do we replace these players with upcoming players? This is the avenue for us to get players,” he said.
Seidu added that the federation was determined to make handball more visible and accessible, describing it as one of Nigeria’s major sporting disciplines with significant potential for growth.
The North Central tournament is part of a wider zonal programme designed to decentralise handball development across Nigeria.
According to the federation, similar competitions are being organised across other zones, including the South East, North East, North West and South South, with qualifiers from each zone expected to converge at a designated venue for the next stage of the competition.
The federation also appealed for greater support from sponsors, stakeholders and state associations to sustain its grassroots development programme.
It expressed appreciation to the participating states, academies, team sponsors and other stakeholders for their support and commitment to the growth of handball in Nigeria.
The federation said the initiative would provide a platform for discovering the next generation of Nigerian handball stars while expanding the sport’s reach beyond its traditional centres.
While Speaking the elated coach of Benue Queen Godwin Tondo has promised a stronger and more tactical performance after guiding the team to victory at the 2026 North Central Division One Handball Championship in Abuja.
He attributed the success to the team’s long-term youth development programme, noting that the squad was built through a deliberate process of identifying and nurturing young talents.
According to him, the programme began with the selection of 92 girls from secondary schools, who were subsequently trained and developed over a four-year period.
He said the team’s success was a product of sustained hard work and commitment despite the challenges encountered during preparations for the tournament.
“I feel very pleased being a champion today. The road to this stage was very, very hard, but I am very happy that we have got the result from all the toughness of the game,” he said.
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