I want to break into top 100 this year - Emmanuel
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- Category: Sports
- Written by Orkula Shaagee
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I came all the way for some reasons and of course to be with the young ones because they are brothers and sisters to me; I have also been practising with them, giving them tips about the game, like how to play, work and do the right thing.
What effect do you think this tournament will have on the participating players?It is a good beginning for them, we have two under 18 players and that is Samuel Omole Nonso, and these are guys that played this tournament before, apart from them all the other guys are under 14 and under 16. So, to me it is a good beginning for them. Really, it is good way to start.
The Davis Cup will be coming up in May and what are the preparations to give Nigeria a lift in the game?
To me, I am always there preparing, I just won a tournament in Port Harcourt last week. Last year’s preparation was not as good as this year; last year we played a camped in Kaduna and the surface of the court was not as good as the one in Tunisia.
So for me to travel to Holland now for training, I think it is perfect situation and after two months I think I will go places.
You are one of the promising Nigerian tennis stars to have emerged; do you have it as one of your targets the issue of playing in the Grand Slam?
Last year I did not played much for obvious reasons of lack of sponsorship, I played like six tournaments which afforded me the opportunity to garner some points, but this year like I told you I am fully prepared to play as much as I can and for sure I am hoping to break through and make it top 100. So, I still nurse the ambition of playing in the Grand Slam.
Do you think Nigeria will get promotion after the Davis Cup?
Yes, this year for sure I can tell you that Nigeria will get promotion. There is a new formula now, there is no more Group 4, we only have Group 2 and all the guys from Zimbabwe, Uganda and other countries in the group involving Nigeria, I think we will do something.
The guys that I know will be there are the people I know because I played in the junior category with them; we have Danka Amanda from Uganda and the other one from Zimbabwe, and these guys are the guys I know so I am sure we will break through.
You said Nigeria is in which Group?
Group 2 and from there we will move on.
What are the reasons in your opinion you think made Nigeria to remain in Group 2 for so long?
To me it is simply preparation, let me give you an example, last year a Moroccan guy came all the way to Egypt to play a future tournament before the Davis Cup started, which we did not have an opportunity to do so; we were in Kaduna preparing which was not good enough.
But what we have now is better because the other guy is planning to travel out and I will also be travelling out of the country very soon, so there is an improvement.
Articles
I want to break into top 100 this year - Emmanuel
Category: Sports Written by Orkula Shaagee Hits: 822
What does the African Junior Tennis Championship means to you and what do you expect the youngsters to do at the event?This is one of the biggest junior tennis events in Africa and that is why you see the best of African young tennis players here.I came all the way for some reasons and of course to be with the young ones because they are brothers and sisters to me; I have also been practising with them, giving them tips about the game, like how to play, work and do the right thing.
What effect do you think this tournament will have on the participating players?It is a good beginning for them, we have two under 18 players and that is Samuel Omole Nonso, and these are guys that played this tournament before, apart from them all the other guys are under 14 and under 16. So, to me it is a good beginning for them. Really, it is good way to start.
The Davis Cup will be coming up in May and what are the preparations to give Nigeria a lift in the game?
To me, I am always there preparing, I just won a tournament in Port Harcourt last week. Last year’s preparation was not as good as this year; last year we played a camped in Kaduna and the surface of the court was not as good as the one in Tunisia.
So for me to travel to Holland now for training, I think it is perfect situation and after two months I think I will go places.
You are one of the promising Nigerian tennis stars to have emerged; do you have it as one of your targets the issue of playing in the Grand Slam?
Last year I did not played much for obvious reasons of lack of sponsorship, I played like six tournaments which afforded me the opportunity to garner some points, but this year like I told you I am fully prepared to play as much as I can and for sure I am hoping to break through and make it top 100. So, I still nurse the ambition of playing in the Grand Slam.
Do you think Nigeria will get promotion after the Davis Cup?
Yes, this year for sure I can tell you that Nigeria will get promotion. There is a new formula now, there is no more Group 4, we only have Group 2 and all the guys from Zimbabwe, Uganda and other countries in the group involving Nigeria, I think we will do something.
The guys that I know will be there are the people I know because I played in the junior category with them; we have Danka Amanda from Uganda and the other one from Zimbabwe, and these guys are the guys I know so I am sure we will break through.
You said Nigeria is in which Group?
Group 2 and from there we will move on.
What are the reasons in your opinion you think made Nigeria to remain in Group 2 for so long?
To me it is simply preparation, let me give you an example, last year a Moroccan guy came all the way to Egypt to play a future tournament before the Davis Cup started, which we did not have an opportunity to do so; we were in Kaduna preparing which was not good enough.
But what we have now is better because the other guy is planning to travel out and I will also be travelling out of the country very soon, so there is an improvement.