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By: Mandy Park
A 14-year-old tennis whiz and student of Start-Rite Schools, one of the leading citadels of learning in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Chukwudubem Amasiani, has been awarded an instant scholarship after making major waves in the course of his visit to the United States.
This was contained in a report by Nigeria Tennis Live, an online news medium fully dedicated to the publication of stories and updates related to tennis.
According to Nigeria Tennis Live, the youngster who was on a training tour of the United States partook in a couple of tennis competitions at different locations, recording impressive results in the process.
“Amasiani played quite a number of sanctioned and unsanctioned tournaments, especially in the U-18 categories where he distinguished himself. He reached the final in Dallas Showdown which drew a lot of attention to the Nigerian youngster who had already won a USTA 18 event,” the report revealed.
As gathered by Nigeria Tennis Live, the number one U-14 youngster in West Africa is now on scholarship with Banners House Academy in Dallas.
Mrs. Judith Amasiani, the mother of the tennis star was quoted to have said that the 14-year-old youngster “now trains alongside young talents like him, Dylan Meineke (15), Texas no 5; Tristan Ascenzo (14), Orange bowl Champ for his age category and runner up in the last Les Petit As in France; among others, including college players”.
She added that “We are grateful to the Adewale Isa Foundation for facilitating this trip to McKinney Tennis Courts, because it was during this period that Duby was discovered and picked for this scholarship.”
According to the Nigeria Tennis Live report, Coach Jim Moortgat, a Co-Director at the TBarM Racquet Club/Tennis, who worked closely with the Nigerian tennis wonder, said: “It’s great to have Duby here. First of all, he’s a great young man. He’s coachable, he listens, looks you right in the eyes; he’s very respectful which I think is very important. If someone doesn’t have a character, it’s difficult to make him a champion.
“Another thing about him, he’s got a great game, he’s a good physical body, hits a very heavy ball. The things he needs to get better at in his game to play at the highest level; his serve has to get better and his moving forward has to get better.
“He’s a smart kid, his tennis IQ is getting there… He’s chosen a very tough sport. It’s really hard to make it in tennis, but there’s no reason why he can’t be the guy that makes it.”
Reacting to the scholarship offered to the youngster in the US, Chairman of Start-Rite Schools Advisory Board, Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, a skilled tennis player, who played a key role in Amasiani’s development and was a great source of inspiration and support to him in the game, remarked: “I am excited that our Dubem whose talents we have long acknowledged is not only getting international recognition, but also international support. This support will definitely encourage him to get to the very best of his endowment. It’s obvious that Dubem will certainly make it big in tennis. He is destined for greatness in the game of tennis. I am very proud of him and looking forward to his presence in the international tennis circuit and seeing him take Nigeria to sporting glory.”
