Tennis: Lagos membership helps Okpala with N5m
As a part of its dedication to assist the welfare of excellent tennis gamers within the nation, the administration of the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club has prolonged humanitarian assist for ace tennis star, Tanya Okpala.
The membership handed her a cheque of N5m offered to her father Joel on Sunday, PUNCH Sports Extra reviews.
The cheque was offered to the previous nationwide champion’s father on the LLTC, Lord Rumens Court, Tafewa Balewa Square in Lagos State as she continues to be present process rehabilitation in Anambra State.
Although the Anambra State Government has taken custody of the previous US-based tennis star by the Ministry of Women Affairs, the LLTC additionally determined to donate funds for his or her ‘golden girl’.
The President of the LLTC, Temitope Abere, stated that regardless of the efforts of Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his spouse, Nonye, the membership additionally wished to assist the tennis star.
“We all know that at the present time, 5 million is some huge cash to provide you with particularly in a membership based mostly on membership, however the concern right here is, we’re very unhappy that one of many daughters of this membership obtained in poor health, so we obtained ourselves collectively and we’re in a position to contribute some cash to assist the household.
“We know that Anambra State Government is doing their best too, we know that our little support is going to go a long way as well,” Abere stated.
LLTC Vice President, Ladi Adekunle, added that they may preserve supporting Tanya past this donation, “Our prayer is that Tanya will continue to get good care so that she recovers in good time and continues to do what she loves to do best, play lawn tennis. We will continue to support the Okpalas in any way we can.”
Joel Okpala thanked the membership members for his or her donation and revealed that Tanya has began lively play on the courts saying, “I’m very very overwhelmed and grateful by the actions of Lagos Lawn Tennis Club. I and my household will stay grateful to each member of this membership.
“They have started taking her (Tanya) to courts in Anambra to bring her back to her former self, and I believe she will recover, there is no doubt about it.”
Former VP of the Club, Ebisan Riwani believes this act ought to set an instance saying, “I feel that this units an instance for what we all the time need in sports activities administration. There have to be some type of backup for the younger gamers and even the retired gamers.
“Nigeria should not forget its heroes, tennis heroes tend to be forgotten, we have no structure encouraging the young and old ones. I believe what we have done today has set an example that we will not forget.”
Okpala got here into the nationwide limelight as a teenage tennis star within the 90s when on the age of 14, she grew to become Nigeria’s #1 in women’ tennis rating.
She was a daily participant on the LLTC lawns earlier than travelling overseas for skilled exploits.
