WORLD number one female tennis player, Serena Williams, who is also the reigning U.S. Open champion, and her sister, Venus, the reigning Wimbledon champion, will arrive in Nigeria on November 10 to begin a three-day tour aimed at promoting youth engagement and empowerment through sports.
The organisers of the visit revealed yesterday that the trip would run from November 10 to 13 at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan. Disclosing the programme for the visit at the club yesterday, Nigerian former international star, Godwin Kienka, said that arrangements were in top gear for the visit of the Williams sisters to the country, saying that already, the American stars have started processing their visas for the trip.
Kienka said that Williams sisters have accepted to come to Nigeria to motivate and inspire the youths with their story and talent. He said the fact that, “Venus and Serena hold three of the four grand slam titles and an Olympic gold from Beijing this year alone, have earned in prize money between them this year alone $6 million to bring their career prize money to date to a little over $42 million is enough to lure our youths to tennis.
“Their story is one of how a combination of unwavering desire, determination, discipline, focus, good planning and sacrifice have brought them to this point where they have between them won all the major titles in tennis. Following her victory at the U.S. Open, Serena has regained the No.1 position and Venus is primed to get back to No.2 and possibly dislodge her younger sister from the top spot.
“There are thus no better sports role-models to inspire and motivate and re-orientate Nigerian youths to pursue excellence and success in whatever they choose to do, like these two African-Americans.”
Kienka said that the sisters would play exhibition matches (their first in Africa), run a short clinic for the best juniors and impact on 1,000 youths that would be assembled from all over the country. He added that they would support orphans in some orphanages to take to sports as a window of opportunity to dignity, self-confidence, fame and fortune, and “attend a reception for about 200 to 250 guests. Venus is especially excited because this will be her first visit to Africa.”
Fans wishing to be part of the visit, according to Kienka, will indicate their interest by registering for accreditation through the Internet or phone call, while states, corporate organisations and individuals can sponsor interested youths from their localities to the event. He added: “There is no gate fees attached to it because it is a charity event.”