Former Nigeria Davis Cup player, Sunday Emmanuel has launched a scathing critique of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), accusing the body of failing to provide a solid foundation for the growth and development of tennis talents in the country.
Speaking in the aftermath of Nigeria’s recent Davis Cup appearance, Emmanuel expressed mixed emotions pride in the team’s performance but deep frustration over the unchanged structural problems plaguing the sport.
“I was in Abuja during the Davis Cup. I watched a bit of it and, you know, I was proud of the guys. I think we beat South Africa or Zimbabwe,” he began.
“Look, I was proud of them. But also there’s no foundation behind it.”
“And when I say there’s no foundation, it’s [that] you have five, six guys that are in college in America.”
Emmanuel pointed out the overreliance on foreign-based athletes who have access to world-class facilities abroad, while grassroots players in Nigeria are left without proper support or infrastructure.
“They get to experience all these top, top facilities in America to be able to compete, and when you go back home—you see, let’s say, under-10, 12, 16—there’s no foundation there.”
“So it still goes back to the same thing that my generation went through, that they are going through right now.”
Reflecting on his own journey, Emmanuel described how he managed to leave the country at age 12.
“At least I was fortunate enough to leave the country when I was 12 years old and I still feel—knowing what I know now—I still feel like I was late because I already knew what the struggle was half of my tennis career.”
“I was only chasing money instead of the dream of being a world number one. I was trying to survive.”
