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THE much-anticipated Tennis Challenge Match between Bahrain and Nigeria has been cancelled after one of Nigeria’s top players died and four others suffered serious injuries after their team bus was involved in a head-on collision in Ghana, writes Mai Al Khatib.
The 92nd-ranked Nigerian Davis Cup team was to take on the 108th-ranked Bahrain team in a friendly face-off at Riffa Views on Saturdayin preparation for the 2011 African Nations Cup
The Lagos Tennis Association (LTA), which makes up the Nigerian Davis Cup team,was to send their top players for a week of intensive training with Bahrain-based JC’s Tennis Academy on December 5.
The LTA had no choice but to cancel their trip to Bahrain after the tragedy which resulted in 23 deaths and one of Nigeria’s promising players in a comatose state.
Joseph Henriques, JC’s Tennis Academy director and talent scout, said: “All of us at JC’s Tennis Academy, Bahrain Tennis Federation, Bahrain Olympic Committee, Arcapita and Riffa Views are saddened by the tragedy.
“We want to take this opportunity to offer our support during what must be a difficult time for the team and officials and to let Nigeria know that their friends in Bahrain will offer whatever help we can.
“The Ambassador of Nigeria in the Gulf, BK Husseini, who was to appear at the opening ceremony was deeply shocked by the news.
“We hope to welcome the Nigerian team to play in Bahrain next year in honour of those who lost their lives,” Henriques concluded.
