New developments
In 2010 it is exactly 10 years ago that Candy Idoko won the local CO Foundation Tournament in Kaduna and thus a trip to tennis schools in the Netherlands. During this period the activities of the Natural Talents project of the CO Foundation resulted in the establishment of a true tennis academy, the NTTA. The NTTA is a place where underprivileged youngsters from the slums in Kaduna and other Nigerian cities are given a chance to work on an international sport career based on their natural ability for the game.
Although the results of the players of the NTTA are very encouraging it became clear that new organsiational developments are needed to increase the chances for the players to perform at the highest international level. There is also need for extra funding. Together with some hardworking volunteers the CO Foundation is currently working to optimise a business plan for the NTTA which should facilitate the incorporation of substantial sponsors to finance the professional careers of some of the top players of the CO Foundation.
The basic idea of having a charity project providing better living conditions for natural talents remains intact. The international part of the career development will be run on a more commercial basis. This way the opportunities for underprivileged youngsters to pursue a sports and/or academic career remain wide open. As soon as they reach an international level they will enter the group of professional players within the NTTA were they will be given further support and guidance. In the near future we hope to be able to announce that we secured the finances for these developments. It should reflect in the position of talented players from the NTTA in Nigeria on the world rankings. Please check the News page on this website to check the progress being made in this area.