Former Nigerian tennis player, Tanya Okpala has been captured wandering the streets of Awka, Anambra State, begging, in a video that has now gone viral.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Okpala, a half-caste athlete with a Belarusian mother and Anambra-native father, represented Nigeria in tennis competitions in the 1990s.
However, her present condition is nothing to write home about. But, she has drawn the attention of both the Governor of Anambra, Chukwuma Soludo and the Minister of Sports, John Enoh with the viral video.
Governor Soludo revealed that the former lawn tennis player would undergo rehabilitation.
In the video, Okpala, visibly distressed, shared her struggles, emphasising how she felt abandoned and neglected.
She expressed frustration at being taunted for her mixed heritage and mentioned people telling her to “go back to your country”.
Despite her challenges, she affirmed her identity as a black Igbo.
“The whole world hears my story and they laugh at me. I do not know why they laugh at me. They will say ‘Go back to your country’. I am just tired.
“I am okay. Even though I am a half-cast, I consider myself a black Igbo. I am going to the village tomorrow to look after my daughter until further notice.
“Even if it’s just water, but I would prefer something like a Sprite. As I am now, I just ate four puff-puff.
“I was a former lawn tennis champion in Nigeria. I do not know if you are familiar with Tanya Okpala and Jacqueline Okwueze during those days. I played tennis for Nigeria and Africa,” she was heard saying in the viral video.
Soludo, responding to the video, in a post on his X account on Sunday disclosed that Okpala is now in the custody of the state government.
He pledged support for her rehabilitation and reunion with her daughter and family.
“Tanya Okpala (former Tennis champion) is now in the custody of the Anambra State Government. She was with the Commissioner of Women Affairs when my wife spoke with her on the phone.
“My government will ensure her rehabilitation and fruitful reunion with her daughter and family,” Soludo wrote.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Sports revealed efforts that have been made so far to assist the distressed former tennis champion.
According to Enoh, the Nigeria Tennis Federation paid for Okpala’s first rehabilitation many years ago when her condition became public knowledge.
“But sadly the former tennis star relapsed after a short while,” the Minister disclosed in a post via X.
Enoh thanked Governor Soludo and his team for the swift intervention in the case of Okpala, saying “this is highly commendable”.
Describing the viral video of Okpala as disturbing, the Minister disclosed that his Ministry will take action to cater for the distressed former tennis star.
Enoh wrote: “The viral video of Okpala Tanya is disturbing, to say the least.
“I spoke with Tanya’s father who briefed me on her current condition and the genesis of her problem confirmed to me, 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.
“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. She was a tennis junior’s champion who played at the highest level and was ranked number one at the time.
“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”.
