N17m Prize Money at Stake in 2016 NCC Tennis League

 The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced a total prize money of N17 million with a star prize of N7 million for the team that wins the 2016 Team Tennis Championship.

Unveiling details of this year’s event at the Ikoyi club at  the weekend  with the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung in attendance, the Executive Vice President of the NCC, Prof . Umar Danbatta,  said the Commission was happy with the profile, organisation and impact of the event which has achieved all the objectives it was designed to achieve.

“The Tennis League is introducing 45 weeks of tennis to the Nigerian tennis calendar up from 32 last year and is taking topflight tennis to more cities across the country.

“The number of teams has also risen from eight to 10 this year.”   Danbatta, who was represented by the Director of Special Duties, Mrs Iyabo Sholanke, said.

Dalung who took a tour of the Ikoyi Club before the opening ceremony, commended the club for the outstanding facility and their maintenance level and implored the club to play a bigger role in the development of sports in the country.

The Minister extoled the NCC for sponsoring such a major historic tennis event which has the potential of producing top

professional tennis players in the near future.

“What I have seen here today has convinced me that the private sector has to lead the sports development process in Nigeria,” stressed Dalung.

The Minister later participated in the ballot for the placement of the teams into the Blue and White round robin groups.

The Blue Group comprises Team Tombim – Abuja, Team Offikwu – Kaduna, Team Lead Way – Lagos, Team Anambra – Onitsha and Team Goshen – Ilorin while the White Group is made up of Civil Defence – Kaduna, Team FCT – Abuja, Team Kalotari – Port Harcourt, Team Hope – Asaba/Warri and Team CBN Futures – Lagos.