Aldin Setkic of Bosnia won the men’s singles of Future 3 of 15th Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship.
The 15th annual Governor’s Cup Tennis Lagos, recorded a low spectator turnout, even though many more players from home and abroad took part in this year’s event.
Pundits attributed the poor spectators turnout to the decline in the fortunes of tennis in the country.
The competition was hosted at the tennis courts of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club (LLTC), Onikan, Lagos, an exclusive club for the highly placed, but avowed lovers of the sport in the country.
This year’s tournament, which was held from Dec. 5 to Dec. 19, was as usual sponsored by the Lagos State Government in collaboration with Lagos State Assurance Company (LASACO) Plc., Julius Berger Plc., Deux Projects Ltd./Spinlet and PLYCON Nig. Ltd.
At least 80 players from 24 countries including hosts, Nigeria featured in the two-week tournament, held in two stages – 1st and 2nd Legs, otherwise known as the Features Three and Features Four.
Unlike in previous editions, the attendance by spectators was discouraging. This, some of the pundits blamed on the current poor economic situation of the country.
Even the attendance at the finals was so poor that many spectator seats were virtually empty, leaving the foreign players wondering why the sudden low turnout of spectators.
Many said they were aware that many Nigerians were passionate about the sport.
However, disturbing was the fact that the organisers did not designate a befitting lounge for players to relax before or after playing as many players including the foreign ones were seen milling about, with no place to rest.
Even the space provided was too small for the players and which was eventually taken over by the ball boys.
The competition had over the past, produced some top grand slam players, including Russian Nina Braatchikova, the 2010 …Read More
Source:: PM Newspaper
