Sports
Sports: Ochei Unveils Youth-Focused Reforms to Grow Tennis in Nigeria
Joel Ajayi
President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, has unveiled plans by the federation’s new board to boost interest in tennis among young Nigerians and drive nationwide participation in the sport.
Ochei made this known on Saturday during the Arise TV Global Sports programme, where he outlined the federation’s vision for transforming tennis in Nigeria through innovative reforms and long-term development strategies.
According to him, one of the key initiatives is the creation of a central registration platform for tennis players across the country. Under the system, every registered player will be assigned a unique identification number to help build a comprehensive national database and improve access to clubs and competitions.
“We want every registered tennis player to have a player’s number. This will help us build a comprehensive compendium and also make it easier for players to access tennis clubs and competitions nationwide,” he said.
Ochei also spoke on his longstanding commitment to sports development, recalling that while serving as a lawmaker in Delta State, he invested heavily in youth empowerment through sporting programmes, including sponsorship for wheelchair basketball athletes.
He noted that he personally funded athletes and teams to participate in international competitions in countries such as Algeria, South Africa, Germany and Brazil, helping Nigerian talents gain global exposure.
At the grassroots level, Ochei said he has continued to sustain youth engagement through his annual Village Unity Cup competition, a tournament designed to promote peace, unity and community development.
He further revealed that he established a stadium and sports development centre to discover, nurture and train young athletes to professional standards.
Looking ahead, Ochei announced that the federation is developing a 10-year Strategic Tennis Growth Plan covering 2026 to 2036. The programme will focus on talent discovery and player development in age categories of 4–8, 8–12, 12–16 and 16–18 years, with special attention on primary and secondary schools nationwide.
“Our target is to catch them young, build their interest early, and create a sustainable pipeline of champions who will represent Nigeria with pride,” Ochei added.
Sports
NLO Integrity Under Fire After Match-Fixing Allegations in Bauchi Clash
..As Wikki Tourists Feeders vs Adamu Jumba FC Draws Concern Over League Credibility
A cloud of controversy now hangs over NLO One following disturbing reports from Bauchi that could undermine the progress and credibility of the Nigerian Nationwide League One under the leadership of Chief Operating Officer Shola Ogunowo.
The league body has consistently maintained a zero-tolerance stance on match manipulation, emphasizing that the integrity and fairness of the competition must be protected at all costs. However, Wednesday’s fixture between Wikki Tourists Feeders and Adamu Jumba FC in Bauchi has raised serious concerns after multiple eyewitnesses came forward with allegations of match-fixing.
According to eyewitness accounts, the match was allegedly fixed to favor Wikki Tourists Feeders, with the aim of helping them leapfrog current table-toppers Warinje FC in the standings. The claims, if proven true, strike at the heart of the league’s reputation as a credible pathway for emerging Nigerian talent.
The most troubling account involves the match officials. Eyewitnesses say the center referee and his assistant refused to return for the second half after noticing what they believed to be irregular conduct during the first half. It reportedly took 30 minutes of intervention and persuasion by the Bauchi State Football Association before the officials agreed to resume the game.
Further allegations point to on-field actions that appeared deliberate. Former Niger Tornadoes player Musa Wakili is said to have intentionally missed a penalty in a manner that raised suspicion among those present. In protest, Adamu Jumba’s head coach is reported to have walked out of the technical area, stating publicly that he would not be associated with anything that could tarnish his professional image.
While these remain allegations and have not been independently verified, the gravity of the claims demands immediate attention. The NLO must launch a thorough investigation to ascertain what transpired during the match and ensure that appropriate disciplinary measures are taken against anyone found culpable. Allowing such conduct to go unchecked would set a dangerous precedent and erode public trust in the league.
Shola Ogunowo has earned respect for his commitment to transparency and professionalism since assuming office as COO. Stakeholders and fans alike now look to the NLO leadership to demonstrate that same resolve by addressing the matter decisively and transparently.
The outcome of this investigation will be closely watched, as it could define how seriously the NLO is prepared to defend the integrity of Nigerian grassroots football.
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