The recent African Table Tennis Players in Diaspora Invitational Tournament concluded in Abeokuta, drawing significant praise for its organisers and sponsors. The event, which ran from 27th to 29th December, saw 25 promising young table tennis players compete fiercely for honours at the Alake Sports Complex, Ijeja, attracting a substantial crowd eager to witness their skills.
Among the special guests was Mr Waheed Ekun, a former national player and coach, who travelled from Ibadan, Oyo State, to attend the final. Mr Ekun expressed his delight, stating the tournament underscored Nigeria’s abundance of talent, which he believes will bolster the senior national team in the future.
“I came from Ibadan because I saw the event last year and decided to witness it again. I am happy with the standard and I thank the sponsors and organisers for creating a good template for the players to show their talents.”
Hon. Allen-Taylor Oluwafemi Wilfred, a senior Legislative Aide to the Senate President, along with other key stakeholders, also commended the tournament’s benefactors and organisers.
In the final, defending champion Matthew Kuti triumphed over Basit Abdulfatai with a 4-1 victory. Despite the scoreline, the match was keenly contested, keeping spectators on the edge of their seats.
Mr Charles Olayinka, one of the diaspora sponsors, expressed his satisfaction with the young players’ skills, which he observed via live stream. “For us watching the live streaming and seeing smiles on the faces of the players, it gives us joy to do more, but we call on corporate bodies to partner with us to take this event to the next level,” Olayinka remarked.
Tournament coordinator, Wale Ajetunmobi, was equally impressed by the standard of play. “What we saw was like a national or continental standard, and it is evident with the champion who is a West African Champion. It was a delight to see the level of keen contest by these players, and I want to thank the sponsors for their consistency,” he stated.
