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Anaeto Ajulufo, President of Onitsha Country Club, Fegge, has congratulated the club’s representative, Emeka Emewulu, on emerging champion at the just-concluded Anambra Governor’s Tennis Tournament in Awka.
Emewulu lifted the trophy on Saturday after defeating Peter Ibeazo of Anambra Sports Club, Awka, in straight sets (6-1, 6-2) during the final match at the Anambra Country Club.
Sponsored by Audi Ltd., the tournament featured teams from 16 clubs across the state. To reach the finals, Emewulu defeated Ugochukwu Onyia of Elite Sports Club, while Ibeazo overcame Albert Anyaene of City Sports Club.
Speaking after the match, Ibeazo, a Catholic priest and runner-up, expressed joy at reaching the final. He noted that sports are vital for both physical and spiritual well-being, encouraging people of all ages to stay active.
Ajulufo commended Emewulu for his sterling performance, thanking God for the victory and expressing pride in hosting a champion during his tenure. He highlighted Emewulu’s journey from a ball boy at the club to its flagship athlete, noting his previous victories, including the Stella Oduah-sponsored Anambra North Tennis Open Championship.
Ajulufo reaffirmed the club’s commitment to raising future champions, revealing that a miniature football pitch and academy would soon be inaugurated to complement the existing tennis academy for children aged 8 to 14.
“I appreciate our champion, Emeka Emewulu, for all his efforts and sacrifices for our club. It is not an easy task, but he does it with ease,” Ajulufo said.
He also expressed gratitude to the sponsors and the state governor: “I thank the sponsors, Audi Company Limited, for hosting the event, and Governor Chukwuma Soludo for creating an enabling environment for sports to thrive, as well as for the additional N2 million he contributed to our prize money. We will channel these funds into our tennis academy to expand our capacity to nurture young talent in Fegge, Onitsha South LGA.”
Ajulufo further thanked the club’s trustees, patrons, and general membership for their unwavering support, promising that his executive team would continue positioning Onitsha Country Club as a trailblazer in Anambra tennis.
The original prize structure saw Emewulu and Ibeazo awarded N1 million and N500,000 respectively, while the remaining 14 participating teams received N100,000 each from Audi Ltd.
Governor Soludo, who served as Chief Host, significantly boosted the rewards by donating an additional N2 million to the champion, N1.5 million to the runner-up, and N400,000 to the other participants. Consequently, the top prize was raised to N3 million, second place to N2 million, and participating teams to N500,000 each.
Governor Soludo commended the sponsors for making the tournament possible, noting that the partnership aligns seamlessly with his administration’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) vision.
