By Adeyemi Robinson-Adefioye, Lagos
A Tennis enthusiast, Shina Atilola says the inability to catch the tennis talents young has been the bane of the development of the game in the country .
In an exclusive interview with www.sunrisetimes.com.ng, Atilola said to hunt for the talents at young age goes beyond ability. It involves technical, training, discipline which need to be part of the players at the early stage of their tennis career.
Atilola also explained that its not only white collar jobs that could put food on one’s table . According to him sports is a major wheel of engaging, employing the youths and also put food on their tables adding that globally young tennis players ruling the world of tennis why not Nigeria?, the country has done it before and she can do it again, he said.
“We all complain but we don’t do. And I have learnt that a little we can do as individuals in our area of interest, we need to do it and I also discovered that we have a lot of talents in Nigeria and our failure to catch them young and help them beyond their ability, there is technical, there is training, which we don’t inculcate at the early stage.
“ The crime of unemployment is increasing yearly, it is not only white collar job that can give employment but Sports is a major tool of engaging people, employing people and putting food on peoples’ table but in my own little way I chose tennis because you can see young tennis stars ruling the world of tennis and why can’t Nigeria?, we have done it in the past and we can do it again”.
He sounded optimist that with some set of people coming together to re-brand the game of tennis in the country, many other tennis enthusiasts would join the moving train adding that the talents on ground at the moment would be nature to the zenith of their career.
Atilola further gave an example of current Africa number 2 ITF Junior, Oyinlomo Quadre that some set of people rally her up to take part in WTA in Tunisia which she did wonderfully well adding if this continues, the talented players in this country would go beyond their wildest imagination.
“I am really sure that a lot of people who have interest will join me though I have started already, I can give a typical example of Oyinlomo Quadre, I gathered some tennis enthusiasts to sponsor her to participate in WTA features in Tunisia which she did well getting to quarter finals and if we can have more people investing in tennis our talented players would go far”. He said.
