Alaere, Blessed Emerge Winners at Bayelsa Closed Tennis Championship
Alaere Benjamin and Master Blessed emerged winners at the second edition of the Bayelsa State Closed Junior Tennis Championship for players under 12 and 14, held in Yenagoa.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Alfred Koripamo, organiser and Founder of Pamo Tennis Classics, expressed excitement at the quality of players who participated in the championship.
Koripamo said the vision of the championship is to discover raw talents, expose them to international tournaments outside Bayelsa, and produce more number-one players.
As a former number-one player in Nigeria, Koripamo noted that it would be a delight to see these young players compete in the United States as professionals while in college.
Also speaking, Mr. Andrew Aye Odenyefa, Director of the Bayelsa State Sports Council, thanked the organiser, Mr. Alfred Koripamo, for the initiative of giving back to the society that nurtured him, and for keeping the children engaged over the past three days.
Odenyefa said that with Koripamo’s background as a one-time top tennis player in Nigeria, he believes Bayelsa State has the potential to produce more number-one tennis players.
The Sports Council Director also used the opportunity to thank the young players for embracing the platform, urging them to build on the experience to become champions.
He emphasized that the championship is not only about winning trophies but also about building friendships, nurturing passion, and channeling it into a good cause for a better future.
The Bayelsa State Closed Junior Tennis Championship is organised by the Pamo Tennis Classics in conjunction with the Bayelsa State Tennis Association to groom young, talented players in Yenagoa.
This year’s edition featured over 40 under-12 and under-14 players from across the state. They competed for trophies in two categories during the three-day championship.
