A board member of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), Bala Yesufu has backed his close associate, Sani Ndanusa, to excel on his new job as Sports Minister.

Last week's confirmation of Ndanusa as Nigeria's new sports minister is being celebrated by stakeholders, who see it as a good omen for the much-battered sports sector

Ndanusa, who has been the boss of the NTF since 2001, is reputed to be one of hands-on sports administrators of our time. He met tennis at the lowest ebb and after five painstaking years of commitment to bail out the game, Nigeria became the hub of tennis in West Africa, with the hosting of no fewer than four Futures events in the country, on a yearly basis.

Under his presidency, Nigeria, which was out of Davis Cup action, returned to winning ways, leapfrogging to the Euro-Africa Zone Group 11 in 2006.

Bala, who played no small part in the revival of tennis, given that he was one of the few persons directly responsible for the organisation and sponsorship of the Heineken Futures, which is now rested, told Sports Vanguard, that Ndanusa would bring his wealth of experience in dealing with the private sector to bear positively on his new appointment.

"What Ndanusa has going for him is his working relationship with the private sector.During his tenure as President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation. As a private sector person, who has had direct relationship with this humble man, I can confidently say that we in this part of the divide, see him as honest, one who can be worked with to resuscitate our sporting fortunes.

"It is hoped that Nigeria, under his leadership, would become a global power to be reckoned with", added Yesufu, who was drafted into the board of the NTF as a resource member.