Sports Minister Senator John Owan Enoh has reached out to the father of Tanya Okpala, Nigeria’s former tennis sensation, whose video went viral recently.
The video revealed the lamentable state of the one-time tennis champion.
Enoh contacted Tanya’s father, who briefed him on her current condition and the genesis of her problem.
He also confirmed to the Sports Minister that the Nigerian Tennis Federation paid for Tanya’s first rehabilitation many years ago when her condition became public knowledge but sadly, the former tennis star relapsed after a short while.
Enoh, in a statement signed by his S.A Media, Diana-Mary Tiku Msan, Monday, also lauded the Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo for swinging into immediate action to remove the former tennis star from the streets.
Arogidigba Global Journal reports that Okpala Tanya was once a tennis player of repute who has played in a lot of tennis tournaments.
She represented Nigeria and the African continent and won laurels to her name.
Tanya was a tennis junior champion who played at the highest level and was ranked number one at the time.
“Let me thank the Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, and his team for the swift intervention in the case of Tanya Okpala. This is highly commendable,” Enoh said.
“As a ministry, our six-point agenda, WAIFAR, has the W for activating and enabling a WELFARE system that caters to serving and retired athletes. As a ministry, we will take action in this regard, as every athlete who has brought glory to our nation deserves appropriate welfare.”