Okubena's six-year streak ends, Ikoyi outshines Accra Tennis Club

FOR six years, Bimbo Okubena did not lose any singles game at the Ikoyi Club 1938; but that record was ended over the weekend when the Accra Lawn Tennis Club visited the club in continuation of the Nigeria-Ghana rivalry.Ikoyi Club won the closely competed 12th Nigeria-Ghana International Tennis Tournament, but not without the dent in the tennis captain's record by Dr. Patrick Bankah. Ironically, Okubena had always beaten Dr. Bankah even in Accra; but on this day, Bankah, a medical practitioner, displayed tremendous bravery and mastery of the beautiful game.Although he was surprised by the agility and determination of his conqueror, Okubena accepted the result as one of those things in tennis.Explaining the purpose of the competition, he said: 'We have been playing this tournament for the past 12 years. It is to build togetherness, friendship, love and also help us cement our relationship as African brothers. We do it interchangeably.'Peter Anan, the coordinator of the International friendly, and Secretary of Accra Tennis Club told The Guardian that they won last year when Ikoyi Club visited Ghana.'Winning is not the most important thing; we come together to share ideas and learn in the spirit of sportsmanship. We need more of this and we also have to encourage youths because they are vital to the survival of the game since many of us are growing old,' he said.Anan, a former Ghana international, who represented his country at the Ghana/Nigeria Games in 1963, and the All African Games, among others, added, 'this particular tourney has been more of a social affair than a competition.
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