The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has confirmed Silver badged Samuel Kamuhia and Saidu Musa the bronze badged Nigerian for the Tombim and Dayak Open Tournaments. The duo will be assisted by several Nigerian umpires.

Kamuhia is arriving Nigeria Friday, April  15, two days to the opening ceremony of the month long events that will see Abuja host two international tennis tournaments from April through  May at the Package B  courts of Abuja tennis club.

Interestingly 219 players  from 30 countries including nine players from the host country have so far entered for the 2nd Tombim Open Tennis Championship and over 90 players for the 1st Dayak Open  which serves off  after Tombim

The 2nd Tombim Open has been scheduled to start on Monday April 18 and will last for 14 days for the two legs of the Futures tournament while the Dayak Open commences immediately after, ending in May after another two weeks of  high class tennis.

Renovation works of the ITF sanctioned courts to be used for the matches are nearing completion as Tombim Sports Development and Dayak employed capable hands to bring it to internationally acceptable standards so that the visiting officials and international players would play out their games without much complains.

Envisaging the rains during the tournaments, the sponsors decided to upgrade the facilities and cover the centre court so that the matches could go unhindered.

The sponsors have also provided a sound proof power generating set which will serve the courts and the offices while Internet facilities have been upgraded so that the tournaments referees could upload results as soon as matches are concluded .The training courts and tournament offices are also being refurbished in readiness for the four weeks of international tennis which has now placed Nigeria in the ITF Futures Calendar.

The organisers and the Nigerian Tennis Federation (NTF) may have offered wild cards to some Nigerian players to attract more entries.

Main sponsors of the events Tombim and Dayak who spoke on the preparations for the tournament explained that more players are expected to register for the tournament before the Dayak Open which serves off a day after the finals of Tombim in Abuja. For now according to the Organisers the main focus is how to deliver the Tombim open and thereafter the Dayak open which is in its first edition.

They disclosed that the NTF and the organisers have been holding series of meetings to ensure that the courts, hotels, security and other logistics for the tournaments which are listed as scoring events under the ITF calendar meet the highest standards required by the World tennis body even as the foreign players are expected to start arriving two days before the first match serves off.

“We have been getting all the kind of support we require from NTF particularly with the International Tennis Federation (ITF).  They have been updating us on the registrations, officials whenever we require any information we get it from them.  Also in terms of sourcing from ITF rated referees and umpires. They help us to ensure that the rules of the game are strictly adhered to. They have been helpful as the host federation affiliated to the ITF.    It is also interesting to note that we now have two Futures Events here in Abuja apart from the Governors cup which holds in Lagos. During the maiden edition nine Nigerian players got into the main draws after the qualifiers.

“Players all over the world are looking forward to the tournament. Registration is free for the people that are playing Main Draw but those playing the qualifiers are paying $40 per person”