A 17-year-old Benue-born tennis player, Kater Kpum has solicited support of the Benue Government, corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals to represent the country at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament in the US.
Kpum told the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday in Abeokuta that he was picked by the Nigerian Tennis Federation at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF) tagged ‘Gateway Games 2024’.
The young player told NAN that luck smiled on him after he played against the greatest of all time in Nigeria, Yusuf Akulu.
“I had a really tough match against him during the National Sports Festival. People couldn’t believe how I played against him.
“I was selected to play in the ITF (International Tennis Federation) tournament.
“I am supposed to get my passport, my PIN, and everything else sorted out. But I don’t actually have a PIN, and I don’t have a passport and other logistics to enable me to participate in the tournament.
“I see it as a chance to make my family, my state, my people, and my country proud. I want to do well and help bring everyone together through sport.
“I appeal to the Benue Government, corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals to assist me to participate in the memorable tournament,” he said.
Kpum said that NSF was his first senior-level competition.
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According to him, he started as a junior and was once a champion in the MTN Junior Tournament and recognised as an outstanding player in SNEP, NFBD, and Shell Sports competitions in Lagos.
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