With reference to an article by Mr. Tunde Fagbenle in The Punch Newspaper dated 02 Nov, 2010; ‘’she stands at 5ft 5ins; the legs are steady, with a slight bow that speaks of probable athleticism. There is a bit of restlessness about her as she darts, no slithers, hither and thither rather evasively around the club house. She is 13 and she lives in Ibadan with her parents. But she is no ordinary school girl, she is a tennis prodigy’’.
By far the best player of her age group in Nigeria, she ranks number 3 in Africa in the 14-and-Under Circuit of the Confederation of Africa Tennis (CAT), with a total point of 418.5 (facts gotten from the CAT’s ranking of 04 Jan, 2011 on their official website – www.cattennis.com). She is indeed making Nigeria proud as no other Nigerian is listed in the top 100.
In an interview with her, conducted by representatives of PRIME YOUTH at the Ibadan Recreation Club on 08 Jan, 2011, she recalls how her dad imposed tennis on her at age six. She was forced to play against her own wish, as she sometimes cried to show her lack of interest. This was short-lived as she in no time, started loving the game.
Ibadan isn’t exactly a big tennis town, indeed no place in Nigeria could be said to be one. As competition for girls of her age group is non-existent, she at ages 8-10 had to play in age grades far above her level, playing against 14 to 18 years old girls and whipping them. By age eight, she entered her first tennis tournament, played at the Ibadan Tennis Club, sponsored by Fan Milk, she won by beating 14-year old Irene Dongo. A happy moment it was for her and her dad.
In 2009, she played in the popular CBN-sponsored annual tennis tournament, entering in the 18-and-Under category. She lost in the quarterfinal to Linda, who of course is many years older than her. Losing is not something she enjoys and when she met Linda in 2010 at another tournament, Supreme Sports Tennis, in Ibadan, she got her own back, beating Linda and winning the cup in the competition; she recalls that encounter with relish and an impish smile.
Necessarily, her tennis prowess has not escaped the notice of the Nigerian Tennis Federation (NTF), poorly run and ill funded as it is. And, thanks to the CAT that manages to organize some different age group tournaments all over Africa for which the NTF has her to showcase, she has been having some (even if inadequate) exposure: in the CAF organized West & Central Africa Jr. Circuit played in Senegal, July 2010, she was the winner in both the singles and Doubles events; earlier in April, 2010 she participated in the Africa Jr. Championships and lost in the Round of 16 – something she attributes to poor condition of her health; earlier in January 2010 she was the finalist in the West & Central Jr. Circuit held in Winneba, Ghana. Just last December, she was titled the ‘’NNPC Under 18 Girls Champion 2010’’ when she defeated 16-year old Victoria Peters in the finals at the 2010 NNPC Junior Tennis Championship”, held in Lagos.
Tennis is a very expensive sport requiring a lot of money to kit nicely, train rightly, and participate in competitions adequately. Her participation in competitions is very limited: she has schooling to contend with and funds are not there to get her sufficiently around.
Tennis Academies like the world-renown IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida and the International Tennis Academy (ITA) are ready to take her in and turn her into a star as they have done to the Andre Agassis of this world. To attend such academies and also complete her high school education, she would need about $70,000 a year. In another two or three years she would move to college (university) and from thence consider going pro. It’s a tough and expensive road.
Would she like to go to America to continue her schooling and tennis? “Yes,” she says, again with that smile, this time and a little frown at the ridiculousness of such a question. “I am ready,” she enthuses. Her father also accepts it as inevitable consequences of the prodigy he has nurtured so far. Like Richard Williams the father of the Williams sisters – Venus and Serena – Mr. Dapo Adegoke has singlehandedly coached her. Now that is not enough, not anymore, not in Nigeria.
Nigeria has in her the real potential of producing her own Serena Williams, something that will bring unquantifiable glory and huge financial benefits to the country. There is no encouragement from the government of Nigeria, she exclaimed! Scholarships from the governments would be nothing compared to the millions being frittered away daily and will yield great dividends. She also offers profound sponsorship opportunities for serious private sector companies, like Mike Adenuga’s GLO, or the CBN, etc, to help Nigeria produce her first world tennis champion.
Academic-wise, she is an SS1 student of St. Louis Secondary School, Ibadan. She made credits and distinctions in her Junior School Certificate Examination, 2010. Her best subject is mathematics as evidenced her A-grade in the examination. She describes herself to be the cool and easy-going type. She is not always free as she immediately finds her way to her training court, immediately after school, on a daily basis.
She dedicates her achievements both in sports and academics to God and her father who doubles as her coach on court and her personal teacher/tutor at home, helping her go along with school work. She also aspires to become a computer engineer. She advises young Nigerians to against all odds, chase their dreams while praying for God’s divine intervention.
The Adegokes express their appreciation to Mr. O.A. Alakija, chairman of ‘’Wayne (West Africa) Limited’’ for his financial support so far.
As concerned citizens, we at Prime Youth on behalf of this tennis prodigy, solicit for all forms of support and sponsorship from individuals, corporate bodies and governments of Nigeria.
Her name is ADEGOKE “SARAH” ROMOKE!!!
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