Coach Kenny Adebowale, head coach of Allegrious Mountain Tennis Club, has expressed deep concern over the dwindling number of grassroots tennis tournaments in Nigeria, describing it as a major obstacle to the country’s ability to produce world-class players.
Speaking with Sports247 in Lagos, Adebowale reflected on how vibrant the local tennis scene used to be during his playing days compared to today’s situation, where competitions have become rare and inconsistent.
Read Also: Lagos State Strikes Historic Grassroots Football Deal With UK’s Abbey Rangers To Revolutionise Youth Development
“During our own time, there were many tournaments — at least three every month,” he recalled. “But now, it’s difficult to even find two in a quarter. The lack of sponsorship has really affected the growth and development of young talents.”
Beyond the shortage of competitions, the veteran coach also pointed to a social challenge: parental hesitation to allow children, especially girls, to pursue tennis seriously.
“Many parents still see tennis as a hobby, not a career,” he noted. “Convincing them to let their daughters combine sports with education is even harder because they fear it will affect their academics.”
Adebowale lamented the decline of corporate sponsorship, which once powered the growth of tennis in Nigeria
“Gone are the days when big brands like John Wood, Gulder, Guinness, Texaco, Bagco sponsored tournaments across the country,” he said. “We used to have up to 10 competitions in a season. Without such support, it’s difficult to produce another player like Chibuzor Odizor.”
He urged the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF) to revive school partnerships and provide a structure that encourages private sector involvement.
“If the NTF can work closely with schools to organize regular competitions, we’ll begin to see progress again. Sports should be treated as part of education, not an interruption to it,” he emphasized.
Despite the mounting challenges, Adebowale continues to train young players with dedication and self-sacrifice.
“Sometimes, we spend our own time and money just to keep these kids on the court,” he admitted. “The financial reward is small, but the joy of seeing them improve keeps us going.”
A former national U-18 player whose promising career was halted by injury, Coach Adebowale remains committed to helping the next generation of Nigerian tennis stars fulfill the dreams he once pursued — and to restoring Nigeria’s standing in the sport.
