Events
ZENITH BANK NEXT GEN MASTERS; MUSA MOHAMMED, OMOLAYO BAMIDELE EMERGE CHAMPIONS
Musa Mohammed from Abuja and Omolayo Bamidele from Ekiti State have emerged champions of the second edition of the Zenith Bank/ Next – Gen Tennis Masters which held at the National Stadium Surulere Tennis Centre.
Several hundred spectators sat out a four hour rain delay in anticipation of an upset victory by the unseeded Emmanuel Jebutu who had upset the No.1 seed and tournament favourite, Philip Abayomi, 3-6, 6-4, 10-6 in the semifinals.
However, Jebutu who was without a doubt the revelation of the tournament, fell short as 19 year-old Musa, the second seed, came from a set behind to win 2-6, 6-4, 10-6.
The Abuja based Musa, who was given a wild card to play in the ITF World Tour event in Abuja in March, was totally handcuffed by his younger but roundly talented opponent and had to fall back on his experience to play a more consistent and patient game to win.
Bamidele had no such challenge in the girls’ finals, as she swept away Favour Moses 6-0, 6-4 to win her first Masters title. The girls’ final was a huge anticlimax, as the two semifinals the previous day had been outstanding, nerve racking performances.
Bamidele recovered from being down 3-9 in the 10 point match tie break to beat Jumai Mohammed 14-12 in the finals set, saving nine match points along the way while Mohammed failed to convert 11. In the other semifinal, Moses who held two match points at 9-7 saw herself face a match point at 9-10 but rallied to win 12-10.
“It was a hugely entertaining tournament,” said Godwin Kienka, director of the International Tennis Academy, organisers of the Masters event. “Every player in the tournament, boys and girls, thoroughly justified their selection and we hope they will take over the seniors in no distant future. The ITA Junior Circuit with our partners is offering a bonus sum of N500, 000 to any 2019 Masters player who wins the CBN Senior singles event.” Kienka said.
Mr Lanre Oladimeji, Head, Retail Banking, Zenith Bank Plc, sponsors of the tournament said he was highly impressed with the very high standard displayed by the players. “As a tennis player myself I can say with some confidence that if a very young talent like Jebutu is nurtured along with the others, we shall have Nigerian players in the Grand Slams in a few years.
All the Masters players went home with very attractive prizes and equipment.
In 2018, Philip Abayomi won the boys’ category and was voted the most outstanding junior in the NCC Senior Tennis League. Now ranked top 30 in the seniors, he lost in the semifinals this year. Oyin Quadri won the girls’ category last year and went on to win the National Sports festival. She is now in Morocco at the Intl Tennis Fed Academy preparing for a pro-career. She is playing in the CBN Senior Championship holding from June 20 to 29 and is expected to win.
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Entertainment
Style Meets Class At Billionaire, Tunde Ayeni’s Daughter Wedding Introduction
Placing all the odds that hounded his life recently in a paternity scandal behind, billionaire, Tunde Ayeni staged a superlative wedding introduction for his daughter some days ago.
It was an assembly of the rich and the super rich who witnessed the wedding introduction of Bolaji, the pretty daughter of billionaire, Tunde Ayeni on Saturday, December 2, 2023.
The 15A Herbert Macaulay crescent, GRA, Ikeja home of the billionaire who headed the defunct Skye Bank wore a colourful look, as the lord of the home, his wife and all their kids in a themed act displayed their rarest form of hospitality and embraced the full Yoruba culture in heralding the first stage of matrimony as they welcomed friends into their home.
As expected, the guest list was grand! Ayeni’s friends did not disappoint, they came in their intimidating numbers.
Former NDDC boss, Timi Alaibe, former Attorney-General, Bayo Ojo, former Governor of Western Region, General David Jemibewon, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Mogaji Wole Arisekola, Femi Falana, Chike Obi, Jide Omokore, Dakuku Peterside, Segun Awolowo, Orile of Ile-Ogbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, Senator Idris Umar, Yomi Awoniyi and many other dignitaries were spotted at the ceremony.
The Ayenis while expressing their appreciation after the event in a statement said ‘this auspicious occasion marks a significant milestone in our lives, and we are excited to share this momentous event with our dear friends and respected guests’.
Credit; Streetjournal Magazine
Events
‘she is a liar!’ Abuja Restaurant Fires Hilda Baci After Meet n Greet Scandal
Vibes By Ann Restaurant, Abuja has called popular chef, Hilda Baci a liar while threatening to sue her for contract breach.
The restaurant claimed to have paid the sum of 3 million naira to the Guiness Book of Record holder for a ‘Meet and Greet’ event and alleged she cancelled on them for no reason.
According to reports, the restaurant has advertised the event and placed a 25,000 naira per plate price on meals to be sold at the venue when Hilda dissociated herself from the event in her posts on social media.
The restaurant showing the receipt of a 3million naira payment made to Hilda for the event slated for June 24th, 2023 released a statement that the event has been cancelled and threatened to drag the chef before the courts.
Further investigations by this newspaper revealed that the restaurant did not put the prices of the food that would be served in the agreement and the noise it created must have made Hilda, who was just officially confirmed as the new record holder of the longest cook-a-thon denied knowledge of the event.
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