NCC Tennis: Marylove in farewell match, starts pro career in USA

Nigeria’s quality junior tennis talent, Marylove Edwards, will be playing what has been described as her farewell match in Nigeria in the NCC Tennis League on Saturday, Extrasportsnigeria.com reports. The game between Lagos based Team CBN Futures and Team Ndoma-Egba of Abuja is taking place at the National Stadium, Lagos Tennis Courts as from 10am.
Edwards, the national 14 & Under champion who got to the finals of the CBN Senior Championships two months ago, will be leaving for the United States of America this month to begin what would effectively be her professional tennis career with the famous Nick Bolletieri Tennis Academy.
Edwards, plays for the CBN Futures and will be showcasing her talent against highly rated Aanu Ayegbusi of the Abuja based team.
Although Team Ndoma-Egba are making their debut in the NCC League, experts rate their line up as being formidable. The line up includes two former champions – Thomas Otu and Sunday Maku – and Mohammed Mohammed who is currently in the top 10 of the NCC Rankings.
The tennis games are not limited to Lagos as two other tennis league matches will take place in Ado Ekiti and Jos.
In Ado Ekiti where Team Yetade will be hosting Team Goshen of Ilorin in an evenly poised tie, the ladies singles between top 10 player Patience Onebamhoin of Goshen and fast rising junior Molade Bamidele, a quarterfinalist at the CBN Seniors has the potential to be the star match of the clash. The tie will take place at the Fountain Hotel tennis courts inside the Trade Fair Complex.
In Jos, defending champions Team Offikwu parading national champions Sylvester Emmanuel and Sarah Adegoke will be taking on newcomers Team Tech Vibe at the Elim Sports Club.
“It is going to be a great weekend for tennis and we shall use the opportunity of the Lagos tie to send-forth our future world star Marylove Edwards. We hope that tennis fans and stakeholders will come and watch the matches and bid her farewell, in all the senses of that word, with a prayer and a package,” Godwin Kienka, director of the International Tennis Academy which coordinates the league, said.
“We are going to make it fun for everyone with refreshments, take-away gifts and some raffle draws.”
Each tie is made up of two men’s singles, one ladies singles and a men’s doubles on Saturday and two men’s reverse singles and one mixed doubles on Sunday.
All the matches start at 10am on Saturday and Sunday