The Trustee of Standard Tennis Development Club Owerri, Charles Duruaku has boasted that his side will emerge champions again in the ENIC Tennis Championship.
The Owerri-based Tennis Club were champions of the most respected tournament in the South-East for the 2022/2023 edition by defeating Nnewi Sports Club in the final.
Speaking with Wakawaka Sports Extra, Duruaku noted that they are the most successful club with six titles and would continue in that feat in the 2023/2024 edition of the tennis championship.
He said: “It was wonderful. It’s been long since we won the championship. The last was in 2018. It was a very tough battle indeed and we are particularly happy because now we are staying atop every other club East of the Niger.
“We have six titles since ENIC started in 1999 followed by Onitsha Country Club that has five titles, Nnewi four titles, Aba three and Orlu Recreation Club three. So, we are indeed the best Tennis playing club East of the Niger. It’s been confirmed.”
According to him, the last edition of the championship witnessed an unprecedented turnout of players adding that plans are already underway to replace ageing players in the team.
“It has been very electrifying. Everybody is very happy. We have been celebrating our victory over Nnewi Sports Club. The turnout for that tournament was unprecedented. A record 57 members attended the tournament, the first in the history of the club. Everybody is happy and we thank God for our success.
“Indeed, Standard Tennis Development Club is not just a Tennis club but also a development centre. We have younger players coming up. The ageing players will stay and we will use the younger ones. We are always breeding new players to replace the ones that are old. We are ready and I want to assure that we are going to lift the trophy back-to-back.
“Perez is really ageing but he is still strong, we will still use him but the monster in the team is Maide nobody can beat Maide Ateh of the Niger. The man can simply be described as a machine and he is the best player in our team. We have other players who will do us proud. We are confident that we are going to triumph again.”
He attributed the success of the team to the support of the BOT Chairman of the club led by Sir George Eche and the ever-supportive President, Sir Churchill Iheabunike Enic Board member Sir Israel Osigwe other celebrities of the club and players led by the captain Samuel Akagha, who played out their hearts to win.
Standard Tennis Development Club last week defeated Nnewi Sports Club by 3-2 to win the 2022/23 league season.