The 2025 edition of the SAPETRO Futures Tennis Championship ended on a very bright note at the Ikoyi Club on Saturday with two first timers Chisimdi
Afam-mbonu and Raphael Awi from Lagos putting up outstanding performances.
Afam-mbonu competing in the Girls 12s beat the No.1 seed Barakat Ganiyu from Oyo State in the semifinals in a close match decided by a tiebreaker and followed that up with another third set tiebreak win over the second seed, Adesinmi Olayinka from Ondo State.
Awi, from the Police College Sports Club, who was inconsolable after his loss in the finals, had also taken out the No. 2 seed in the Boys 12s in the semifinals but found the top seed, Friday Testimony from Ogun State too tough to break down in the final.
The match of the day, which had spectators and dignitaries really excited was the Boys 16s between Seyi Ogunsakin of Ekiti and Dubem Amasiani from
Abuja.
Amasiani, who returned from four weeks of international junior tournaments in Tunisia and Ghana was expected to win easily and looked to do that when he led 5-0 in the pro set. Ogunsakin, however staged an amazing comeback, levelling at 5-5 and dragging the match to a tiebreak at 8 – 8. A tired Amasiani was completely overwhelmed in the tiebreak which Ogunsakin won 10-7.
Goodnews Aina, from Ekiti, expectedly won the Girls 16s beating her teammate, Gloria Samuel while the Girls 14 title was taken by Success Godwin from Ekiti who beat Khadijat Wuraola from Kwara.
The Abuja boys took the Boys 14s title with Goodluck Tersoo who also got the most improved player for boys thrashing Daniel Igbinovia from the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club. The most improved player for the girls went to Barakat Ganiyu from Oyo State
Emeka Anagbogu, managing director of the South Atlantic Petroleum, sponsors of the championship said the organization was very happy with the very high level of skills exhibited by the young players. Adding, ” we would like to see them progress beyond the national level to become tennis professionals. The Managing Director was represented by Azubuike Egwuenu, GM Technical Services and Assets.
