Timibra is NNPC/Chevron Junior Masters Tennis champion
Rivers State’s Godgift Timibra on Sunday defied the Lagos’ rains to win the 16th NNPC/Chevron Junior Tennis Masters title by beating Kaduna-born John Dickson at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.
In the game disrupted by the afternoon showers, Timibra, whom was making his second attempt at winning the title after coming out third best last year, beat the aggressive Dickson 6-2, 2-6, 7-6.
Leaning on the support by majority of the spectators, including students, who took out time to watch their mates in action, Timibra clawed his way back into the game after trailing for so long in the battle of big servers.
Speaking after the game, Timibra said he was delighted but also surprised that he won the game.
“I feel very happy to win the NNPC/Chevron Junior Masters Tennis finals. I did not believe I could win it, but I stepped up my game and by God’s grace I won, ” he said.
The Port Harcourt-based teenager revealed that he has been trying to model his game after top tennis stars like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
While Timibra was savouring his triumph, Dickson could not stop ruing the missed opportunities he had to wrap up the tie.
“After leading 5-2, I relaxed my play thinking the game was over; I should have finished the game,” Dickson lamented.
He vowed to come back stronger in the next edition, adding, however, that he continue to balance his studies and playing tennis.
To reach the finals, Timibra outclassed Christopher Itodo of Kaduna State in the semifinals, while Dickson defeated Tochukwu Eze.
Earlier in his welcoming address, Chevron’s General Manger, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Deji Haastrup, who was represented by Manager Social Performance and Planning represented, Tunji Idowu, explained that his company instituted the tennis programme to build capacity among Nigerian youths and provide a positive vent for youthful energies amongst the young ones.
“This commitment to building capacity has in turn, provided a veritable platform to aid the health and mental development of our Nigerian youths”.
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