My friend, Godwin Kienka, Director of The International Tennis Academy, called and gave me the good news last week – the Williams Sisters, Venus and Serena, are coming to Nigeria for some exhibition matches and clinics before the end of the year!

Wow! Since going into sports administration and business it has always been my great dream to be part of bringing sports celebrities to Nigeria. Two years ago, as consultant to the Nigerian Heart Foundation, I tried to bring golfers Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo and Ernie Ells to Nigeria. I only got as far as Tiger’s website! Ernie responded but would not be able to visit at short notice due to his other booked engagements for years ahead. Nick, although retired, was also fully committed to other programmes and could not come, but sent an autographed photo to be auctioned to raise funds in support of the Nigeria Heart centre!

Aside from Tiger Woods, my other great dream was for the William Sisters to visit and become the catalyst of change for Nigerian female tennis. My dream that one of Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United would come play in Nigeria has come to pass thanks to the silent work of Shehu and David and a few other Nigerians that refused to be deterred by the frustrating procrastination of corporate Nigeria when it comes to funding such events. Manchester United have visited in the past few weeks.

So, when Kienka told me about the Williams Sisters, I was over the moon. It is true! The formalities are being worked out. Funding is being sourced for. The Williams Sisters can inspire Nigeria’s highly physically gifted girls to take to tennis.  When that happens they would quickly burst into the world scene with their athleticism and power. Tennis is a game genetically suited to Nigerians, like sprinting and the jumps! Although also highly technical, having such physical attributes provides a great advantage. The greatest incentive is the money available in the game for those that excel in it. When the first African woman makes it, the world will witness a major shift in the dominance of the sport by Africans. I can’t wait to see and possibly meet the Williams sisters on Nigerian soil!