Heineken Promises Exciting Moments, As 2019 Lagos Open Tennis Begins
SUNDAY AKINTOYE
L-R: Tournament Director, Prince Wale Oladunjoye, Senor Brand Manager, Heineken, Mr. Mfom Bassey and Director General, Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Oluwatoyin Gafaar Bolowotan at the media briefing ahead of the 2019 Lagos Open Tennis in Lagos on Thursday.
With its commitment to quality, consistency and effective brand messaging, Heineken Beer, which has joined the consortium of partners of the annual Lagos Open Tennis Championship, has promised excitement moments for fans as the 19th edition of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) sanctioned tournament serves off on Monday.
The Senor Brand Manager, Heineken, Mr. Mfom Bassey said at the press conference to herald the Lagos Open Tennis which holds at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos on Thursday that the brand known for its quality and general acceptability would pull its strength and weight behind the Lagos Open as it has done to other sports competitions such as the UEFA Champions League, F1 and others, even just as he promised that Heineken will add values to the tournament, which will feature emerging tennis players from no fewer than 57 countries of the world.
“We will continue this partnership we started with Lagos Open this year and all stakeholders will have the cause to appreciate Heineken for this support in the years to come,” said Bassey.
Other sponsors of the competition include Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, LASACO, Julius Berger, KIA Motors, Qatar Airlines and Uber.
Speaking through the Prince Wale Oladunjoye, Tournament Director of the Lagos Open Tennis, the most enduring legacy in sports left behind by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu after he left office in 2007, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Chief Pius Akinyelure said that all is now set for the tournament, which has been holding in since year 2000 to celebrate the sitting Executive Governor of Lagos State. This year will be the first in the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Chief Akinyelure revealed that the ITF has redefined the nomenclature of its Futures Tournament to reflect the prize money.
“Lagos Open is in the highest category and is now known as an M25 +H and W25 Tournaments for the men and women categories respectively. So this year, we have two M25 and W25 Tournaments for both Men and Women, the first from 7-13 October, while the second holds from 14-20 October, 2019, the total prize money therefore remains $100,000. All qualified players in the Main Draws get a share of this prize money,” said Akinyelure.
He appreciated all the partners and sponsors of the competition especially Heineken, which is coming in starting from this year.
Akniyelure applauded the support the tournament has been receiving from the Lagos State Government and most especially the incumbent, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
President of Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Mr. Ademola Akin-Taylor said that for the past 16 years, it has been the great privilege of the club to host this prestigious event, as we have continued to hold the banner of excellence in our hosting.
“It is a thing of pride for us to recall that, since its inception 19 years ago, the Lagos Open, which used to be known as the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis, has, without doubt been a stepping stone for tennis players, and a nurturing ground for aspiring superstars. For those who did not know Ukrainian-born Elina Svitona, who is currently ranked 5th in the world, is one of those superstars of the Lagos Open Tennis,” Akin-Taylor said.
The president of Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Engr. Ifedayo Akindoju, which is the custodian of the tournament, said that players are expected from 57 countries of the world in the 19th edition this year. Akindoju who spoke though a board member of the NTF, Ms. Funmilayo Koya-Adako said enjoined Nigerians to troop out in their numbers to watch exciting tennis action at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan starting from Monday, 7 October.
Related posts
