Breaking colonialists dominance of tennis was difficult –Charles Duke
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- Category: Sports
- Written by Adie Vanessa Offiong, who was in Calabar
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Chief Charles Ekpo Duke, now 83 years, was one of Nigeria’s foremost tennis players who represented the country in international competitions even before independence in 1960. In this interview he shared his experience as a professional tennis player, competitive tennis beginning from the 40s through to 60s and how tennis lovers eventually ended the colonialists dominance of the sport.
You were born some 83 years ago, how did you get into sports?It was at college level while I was in St. Patrick’s College, Calabar. We had Rev. Fr. Smiden at the time in the 40s. The Reverend fathers who were sport lovers created room for it in the schools where they were posted and encouraged us to participate in the various sports. We had in addition to football which was the popular sports hockey, table tennis, badminton, amongst others.
Why did you settle for tennis?
After I completed college, I went to Lagos. There in Lagos, there was no other sport I could play. I did play hockey but there were very few clubs playing it in Lagos. There was King’s College and the Marina which is now called NPA (Nigerian Ports Authority). This was not encouraging as you had to go to work and then come back to do a bit of sports before turning in for the night. It was a bit difficult in the late 50s and early 60s when we were playing. It was all European clubs playing. You could not find any club playing tennis except you went to Ikoyi Club or the Lagos Tennis Club. The only public club was at Onikan opposite the Race Course, which had a swimming pool and facilities for other sports. We went there every now and again to use the facilities until a time we felt we could compete. After a while we were invited into the Lagos Tennis Club as non-paying members because we couldn’t afford to pay.
How much did it cost at the time?
I don’t remember. But it was beyond our reach because it was a strictly expatriate club and had a few Nigerian top government officials. They encouraged us by buying us rackets which we also couldn’t afford.
How old were you at that time?
I was in my late twenties. You couldn’t have started earlier than that age because you cannot afford to. Tennis was an expensive game at the time. It was only in the early 80s that it opened up for more people. In Nigeria then you couldn’t count more than three clubs: there was the Kaduna Club, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club and the Ikoyi Club. Perhaps there was also the Port Harcourt Club. These clubs were exclusive to the whites.
How did it become a professional sport for you so much so that you represented Nigeria abroad?
Like football there was interrelated clubs like we played Ghana on international levels. If we played here this year, we would go to Ghana the next year. That was how the international angle came in and it happened to be competitive because you had to select the best six or the best seven to represent Nigeria. This is how our competition started and we strived to be there because once you are selected your name will be in the press in Daily Times, the government will take care of you for the period you are away. For the first time you will be lodged in a hotel; something you have never imagined would happen to you (laughing). That was our ambition because it was not something we ordinarily would have afforded. Your face is everywhere; you are recognised in your work place, in the stores and all over. You were somewhat a celebrity. Your name is on the paper but the name of your boss is never likely to be there. This was something only the whites and elites enjoyed. But you a young boy going that far was something spectacular.
Did you have conditions attached to the relationship between the locals and whites in those days?
The first and most important condition was discipline. There was a lot of discipline at the time and as I said it was an elitist thing. You want to belong and if you were to be a part of them you must behave and discipline yourself. Self discipline was paramount considering the fact that we were allowed to play because we just making a name for Nigeria. Really we considered it a privilege.
Presently, ladies like the William sisters are in the forefront of tennis, in your days did ladies have any place in the sport?
There were very, very few and in most cases apart from the female expatriates those Nigerian elites who had younger wives who were interested in tennis took part.
Did they get to professional level?
No, because they couldn’t make it. Don’t forget that they did not start it at a very young age unlike the rest of us who did. Like I started in the twenties and played through the 40s onwards. The stamina was there and as men we didn’t have the family responsibilities like they did.
What is your assessment of tennis development in Nigeria?
We are not giving much attention to it. The government cannot promote tennis, so we expect private companies to promote it the way the Central Bank is trying to do. Shell used to try but I am not so sure if they still do. Hardly before people play competitive tennis in Nigeria like in my time. Now, it seems more like a recreation sport.
When did you stop playing?
I stopped active tennis in 1974 when I was transferred to Calabar. I was also aging at the time with family responsibilities so I had to slow down on some of my activities.
Articles
Breaking colonialists dominance of tennis was difficult –Charles Duke
Category: Sports Written by Adie Vanessa Offiong, who was in Calabar Hits: 383
Chief Charles Ekpo Duke, now 83 years, was one of Nigeria’s foremost tennis players who represented the country in international competitions even before independence in 1960. In this interview he shared his experience as a professional tennis player, competitive tennis beginning from the 40s through to 60s and how tennis lovers eventually ended the colonialists dominance of the sport.
You were born some 83 years ago, how did you get into sports?It was at college level while I was in St. Patrick’s College, Calabar. We had Rev. Fr. Smiden at the time in the 40s. The Reverend fathers who were sport lovers created room for it in the schools where they were posted and encouraged us to participate in the various sports. We had in addition to football which was the popular sports hockey, table tennis, badminton, amongst others.
Why did you settle for tennis?
After I completed college, I went to Lagos. There in Lagos, there was no other sport I could play. I did play hockey but there were very few clubs playing it in Lagos. There was King’s College and the Marina which is now called NPA (Nigerian Ports Authority). This was not encouraging as you had to go to work and then come back to do a bit of sports before turning in for the night. It was a bit difficult in the late 50s and early 60s when we were playing. It was all European clubs playing. You could not find any club playing tennis except you went to Ikoyi Club or the Lagos Tennis Club. The only public club was at Onikan opposite the Race Course, which had a swimming pool and facilities for other sports. We went there every now and again to use the facilities until a time we felt we could compete. After a while we were invited into the Lagos Tennis Club as non-paying members because we couldn’t afford to pay.
How much did it cost at the time?
I don’t remember. But it was beyond our reach because it was a strictly expatriate club and had a few Nigerian top government officials. They encouraged us by buying us rackets which we also couldn’t afford.
How old were you at that time?
I was in my late twenties. You couldn’t have started earlier than that age because you cannot afford to. Tennis was an expensive game at the time. It was only in the early 80s that it opened up for more people. In Nigeria then you couldn’t count more than three clubs: there was the Kaduna Club, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club and the Ikoyi Club. Perhaps there was also the Port Harcourt Club. These clubs were exclusive to the whites.
How did it become a professional sport for you so much so that you represented Nigeria abroad?
Like football there was interrelated clubs like we played Ghana on international levels. If we played here this year, we would go to Ghana the next year. That was how the international angle came in and it happened to be competitive because you had to select the best six or the best seven to represent Nigeria. This is how our competition started and we strived to be there because once you are selected your name will be in the press in Daily Times, the government will take care of you for the period you are away. For the first time you will be lodged in a hotel; something you have never imagined would happen to you (laughing). That was our ambition because it was not something we ordinarily would have afforded. Your face is everywhere; you are recognised in your work place, in the stores and all over. You were somewhat a celebrity. Your name is on the paper but the name of your boss is never likely to be there. This was something only the whites and elites enjoyed. But you a young boy going that far was something spectacular.
Did you have conditions attached to the relationship between the locals and whites in those days?
The first and most important condition was discipline. There was a lot of discipline at the time and as I said it was an elitist thing. You want to belong and if you were to be a part of them you must behave and discipline yourself. Self discipline was paramount considering the fact that we were allowed to play because we just making a name for Nigeria. Really we considered it a privilege.
Presently, ladies like the William sisters are in the forefront of tennis, in your days did ladies have any place in the sport?
There were very, very few and in most cases apart from the female expatriates those Nigerian elites who had younger wives who were interested in tennis took part.
Did they get to professional level?
No, because they couldn’t make it. Don’t forget that they did not start it at a very young age unlike the rest of us who did. Like I started in the twenties and played through the 40s onwards. The stamina was there and as men we didn’t have the family responsibilities like they did.
What is your assessment of tennis development in Nigeria?
We are not giving much attention to it. The government cannot promote tennis, so we expect private companies to promote it the way the Central Bank is trying to do. Shell used to try but I am not so sure if they still do. Hardly before people play competitive tennis in Nigeria like in my time. Now, it seems more like a recreation sport.
When did you stop playing?
I stopped active tennis in 1974 when I was transferred to Calabar. I was also aging at the time with family responsibilities so I had to slow down on some of my activities.