By Nwabueze Okonkwo

 Activities marking this year’s Annual Lawn Tennis tournament,  ended at the weekend with Paul Areh, the incumbent coach of Anambra State Lawn Tennis  emerging first position out of a total of 11 players in the tournament.

At the two-day event which took place at the ancient Onitsha Sports Club, Areh scored 20 points to clinch the first position, while Iyke Anadebe and Ikedi Ojukwu came second and third with 19 and 18 points each.

Receiving his first prize package from Mr. Isaac Nwabuzor, the Eastern Zonal Public Affairs Manager of Nigerian Breweries Plc., sponsors of the tournament, Areh, the overall winner expressed joy for clinching the first position at the tournament.

He therefore attributed his victory doggedness and long standing experience in lawn tennis sporting events, which explained why he had grown from being a player to a coach.

Earlier in his goodwill message shortly after the grand finale, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Breweries Plc., Mr. Nicolaas Vervelde, expressed delight that NB Plc had over the years, partnered with the Sports Club to bring this tournament into fruition.

According to Vervelde who was represented at the event NB Plc’s Public Affairs Manager (Eastern Zone) Nwabuzor, “We are all testimonies to the prevailing economic situation in the country which has constrained corporate bodies from sponsoring sporting events of this nature. However, we have remained resolute and passionate for this game especially in the commercial city of Onitsha”.