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Tag: NTTF

  • NTTF fixes March 21 deadline for U-16 National League

    To give states the chance to be part of the maiden U-16 national league, the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has fixed March 21 as registration deadline.

    According to the Secretary General of NTTF, Chinedu Ezeala-Ogundare, it becomes necessary to give the participants ample time to perfect their registration for the championship.

    “With the success recorded by the senior national team at the ITTF World Team Championship in Malaysia, we want to ensure that we groom players that will come through the ranks. That is why the U-16 National League becomes necessary and we have decided to give the states the opportunity to finish their registration for the competition. We will not allow late registration because we want to give the teams the chance to be part of the tournament which will help us to unearth new talents,” she added.

    The U-16 national league will involve players across the country and it is meant to give new players the opportunity to make national junior teams as well as work their way into the senior team.

    It will hold on March 29 to April 8 at the National Training Centre in the National Stadium while the grand finale which is known as Super League will hold on May 14 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

    Each state across the country is expected to present two boys and two girls while the top eight players in the boys and girls event will qualify for the Super League.

    According to the prospectus of the tournament, states wishing to participate will register with the NTTF, while only the first 20 boys teams and the first 16 girls teams to register for the League shall be accepted to participate while only players registered by states which are affiliated to NTTF are eligible to participate, while all players shall hold the current NTTF Player’s License, which must be produced on demand.

    For the President of NTTF, Wahid Oshodi, more talented players would be given the opportunity to showcase their skills to the national handlers.

    “I think our focus in 2016 as in 2015 is that we must continue to develop the junior and cadet players. We must give our most talented young players the right atmosphere for them to grow. This of course means giving them the best coaching and affording them the opportunity to play in tournaments internationally so we can assess how well they are doing against the best young players in the world.

    “We have done quite well in this regard in the last two years but there are a lot more gifted players all over the country and we must do our best to discover and harness them. We hope to be able to create new tournaments outside Lagos and Abuja. If we can find the right partnerships with the private sector this will assist greatly in boosting the spread of the game across the country,” Oshodi said.

  • NTTF names Toriola, Oshonaike, seven others for 2015 African Games

    NTTF names Toriola, Oshonaike, seven others for 2015 African Games

    Segun Toriola and Olufunke Oshonaike will be making their seventh appearance at the 2015 African Games after the former champions were named alongside other seven others by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) for the multi-sports championship in Congo Brazzaville.

    As the most respected table tennis stars, Toriola and Oshonaike will lead Nigeria’s nine-man team to the Games. Toriola and Oshonaike made their debut at Cairo 1991 in Egypt.

    The nine-man team was selected based on their ranking coupled with series of trails organised in Lagos in the last three weeks.

    Toriola is the most successful player in the history of African Games having won the men’s singles title four consecutive times in 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007.

    Like Toriola, Oshonaike is also the most successful female player in the history of the games having claimed the women’s singles title twice in 1999 and 2003 while she was runner’s up in 1991 and 2011 will be making her seventh appearance at the multi-sports championships.

    Toriola, a six-time Olympian will be joined in the men’s team by 2014 ITTF Star Player, Aruna Quadri, Bode Abiodun, Seun Ajetunmobi and Ojo Onaolapo.

    Besides Quadri and Ajetunmobi who had featured at the previous African Games, Abiodun and Onaolapo will be making their debut at the games

    Oshonaike will spearhead the female team which include African Games women’s singles defending champion, Edem Offiong, Cecilia Otu-Akpan and Rasheedat Ogundele.

    Also, Offiong and Otu-Akpan will be making their fourth appearance at the games having debuted at Abuja 2003 in Nigeria. The duo is also the women’s doubles defending champions having retained the title they won in Algiers 2007 at the 2011 edition in Mozambique.

    Ogundele, who is only debutant in the female team, returned to the national team having had a stint with the team to various continental and international tournaments.

  • NTTF boss, Oshodi makes CTTF board

    NTTF boss, Oshodi makes CTTF board

    For his efforts at reviving the fortune of table tennis and the crucial role Nigeria has played, the Commonwealth Table Tennis Federation (CTTF) on Monday at its election held in Suzhou, China, elected President, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi into its board of directors.

    As the second African in the board, Oshodi, who is also the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, has joined South Africa’s Audrina McDonald, who is the treasurer in the board.

    The board, being the highest ruling body administering table tennis in Commonwealth nations, is made up of 12 members chaired by England’s Alan Ransome.

    Aside Nigeria and South Africa, other nations represented in the board include Canada, New Zealand, Malaysia, Barbados, Scotland, Cyprus, Singapore and India.

    Also at the Annual General Meeting of the board, India has been named as the host of this year’s Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship scheduled to hold in Gujrat from October 27 to November 1.

    Prior to this election, Oshodi used to be a member of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) nomination committee.

    For Oshodi, this election has also confirmed the relevance of Nigeria among the Commonwealth nations and this is another call to serve.

    Meanwhile, ITTF has commended Nigeria for the giant stride the country has made in recent times especially in their efforts to promote the game globally.

    It would be recalled that the 2015 Lagos Open was viewed globally by 105m people across the globe.

  • 2015 ITTF-Africa Senior Championships: NTTF appeals to NSC for cash

    2015 ITTF-Africa Senior Championships: NTTF appeals to NSC for cash

    Few weeks to the kick-off of the 2015 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Senior Championships holding in Cairo, Egypt, the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) is passionately appealing to the National Sports Commission (NSC) to support the team financially to be able to be part of the championship.

    The tournament, according to Africa Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), serves as qualifiers for this year’s World Championship scheduled for April in China. Also, the championship will aid Nigeria’s players in their quest to improve their world rating.

    According to NTTF Secretary-General, Chinedu Ezeala-Ogundare, the Cairo tournament serves as prerequisite for any team to be part of the 2015 World Championships in China, while it would also improve the country’s chances of getting good rating in the world.

    “The competition was scheduled to hold in Sudan this year but because of the Ebola Virus Disease, it was cancelled. But the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) just confirmed to us that the tournament will now be hosted by Egypt and this is a must for us and we must make it down there. For now, we are hoping to assemble our best players within and across the globe so that we can have a strong team.

    “We are using this medium to appeal to NSC to support us financially in order to be part of this competition. The performance of Aruna Quadri has now put more attention on Nigeria and for us, we need to be part of the competition to ascertain our status as a continental power house,” the NTTF scribe said.

    She, however, lauded the NSC for their unflinching backing in 2014, adding that she is optimistic that the country would make it to Egypt.

    In a statement made available by ATTF and signed by Mokhtar Toukabri, the tournament serves off on January 23 to 29.

    “ATTF has the pleasure in sending to all African Associations the new date of the 2014 ITTF-Africa Senior Championships, 23-29 January 2015 and it will be held in Cairo – Egypt. We need to remind all Associations that this event is a prerequisite for all who would like to participate in the 2015 WTTC in Suzhou – China during 27/4 – 3/5/2015, which means that no entries from Africa in the WTTC except for those African Associations with at least one player to join us in the 2014 ITTF-Africa Senior Championships, Cairo 23-29 January 2015 according to the new rules of ITTF. We are waiting for your final entries before January 15, 2015,” he said.

    However, Nigerian players led by Portugal-based Aruna Quadri are eager to be part of the tournament in order to halt the dominance of Egypt in Africa.

  • NSCDC, OTHERS MAKE GRAND FINALE OF NTTF NATIONAL LEAGUE

    NSCDC, OTHERS MAKE GRAND FINALE OF NTTF NATIONAL LEAGUE

    Despite not starting well in the competition, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) yesterday led seven other teams to the grand finale of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) national league.

    Already the four finalists in the women event have been emerged with Union Bank Sports Club leading three others to the finale holding tomorrow at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

    In the men’s category, NSCDC inspired by Kazeem Makanjuola and Ganiyu Ashimiyu re-enacted their form to maintain their 100% record in the tournament.

    After a slip to Union Maritime in their third game, the side won all their matches to remain on top of the log table. A confident Ashimiyu told  SportingLife yesterday that despite the difficulty the team faced early in the competition, nothing could stop them from clinching the title.

    “When we started it was difficult for me to adjust to the new ball and when we picked up, we became unstoppable and with this form, we are good for the title come Friday. There is no doubt that the league has brought out the best in all the teams and from what I witnessed there was no easy team to beat even the cadet players that featured in the league,” he boasted.

    Other teams that will join NSCDC in the top eight grand finale are Union Bank Team One, G-20, Springfresh Team One, Sunshine Team One, Union Maritime as well as IAR&T.

    Meanwhile, assistant referee of the championship, Ranti Olajide admitted that the tournament has been an eye-opener especially for the players and umpires. “This is the first time that this Olympic system will be administered by the umpires in the country. At the initial stage, it was a bit difficult for the umpires and players but after a few days, they started getting it right. We have about 20 umpires handling proceedings in the tournament and for us, we have trained and exposed this set of umpires to the new system which will be helpful during the National Sports Festival. Also it is very important for our players to also get used to the system because that is the style that will be used at the next All Africa Games,” the International Umpire said.

  • Camp resumes as NTTF names team

    Camp resumes as NTTF names team

    After taking part in the just concluded International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Lagos World Tour and African Top 16 Cup, the final phase of camping for this month’s Commonwealth Games resumed just as the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has named a strong ten-man team for the championship holding in Glasgow, Scotland.

    Virtually all the players aiming to be part of the team for the Commonwealth Games took part in the two-in-one tournament held in Lagos last week.

    To complete the list of the team for the games, NTTF organized a two-day trial for the players to select the final four that would join the already listed six-man team that were part of the team to the last World Championship in Tokyo, Japan.

    At the end of the trial, Ganiat Ogundele and her sibling, Rashidat made the women team, while Portugal-based duo of Bode Abiodun and Jide Ogidiolu made the cut for the men team.

    According to NTTF Secretary General, Chinedu Ezeala-Ogundare, the players were selected based on their present form and this was to ensure that Nigeria present a formidable team that would compete for medals against top teams like Singapore, England and India.

    “We want to ensure that we give all the players equal opportunity to make the team and that is why we decided to organize the trials. So for us, we are already in camp before the tournaments last week and now we have returned to camp to ensure that we give our players the opportunity to train well before the departing the country for a two-week training tour of Italy,” she said.

    The current African champion and ITTF World Cup-bound Aruna Quadri topped the list of players that will hoist Nigeria’s flag in Glasgow.

    He will be joined by experienced and one of the continent’s most decorated players, Segun Toriola. Toriola who guided the team to a god outing at the World Championship in Japan will captain the team, while former junior sensation, Ojo Onaolapo will also be part of the team.

    Others are Bode Abiodun and Jide Ogidiolu.

    Germany-based Funke Oshonaike will captain the female team while other members are Edem Offiong, Cecilia Otu-Akpan, Ganiat Ogundele and Rashidat Ogundele.

    The team is expected to depart for Italy next week for the training tour where they will move to Scotland for the games.

     

  • PLAYERS COMMEND LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT FOR IBILE GAMES

    PLAYERS COMMEND LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT FOR IBILE GAMES

    SOME participants at the just-concluded table tennis event of the ongoing Lagos State Sports Festival, tagged “Ibile Games”, have commended the organizers for the opportunity to compete.

    The players in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) hailed the Games as coming at the right time. Ayo Omotara, a gold medalist in the men’s singles, said his determination paved way for him to win.

    Omotara, who also won a silver medal in men’s doubles, said because of his poor performance at the NTTF Pilot League, he was determined to excel at the Games.

    “I didn’t perform well at the pilot league and so, I was determined to prove myself at the Ibile Games.

    “I am happy that I was able to achieve and I thank the Lagos State Government for organising the Games,’’ he said.

    Alimot Ayinla, a student at Aunty Ayo Senior Comprehensive Secondary School, Obalende, who won a silver medal, said it was a great opportunity winning in the women’s singles in spite of its being her first appearance in a major competition.

    Ayinla added that she had learnt some lessons while participating in the Games.

    “ I am not the same again. I have learnt a lot and I will go and build on them.

    “Learning is the spice of life and I won’t relent in learning more, I thank the Lagos State Commissioner for Sports for this great opportunity.’’

    Sunday Onyikwu, a gold medalist in the men’s singles in the para event, class 10, commended the government for the exposure.

    Onyikwu told NAN that it was a tough competition and everyone fought so hard to emerge victorious.

    “It wasn’t a child’s play. We all battled it out because we all were not here for jokes,’’ he said.

    Philip Ambe, a gold medalist in men’s para singles, closed class 8 and 9, said the competition was worth it. Ambe said taking part in the Games had encouraged the upcoming table tennis players.

  • Coach lauds renovation of National Stadium knock-up Hall

    Coach lauds renovation of National Stadium knock-up Hall

    Coach Ayoola Popoola of the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps Table Tennis Club, on Thursday lauded the ongoing renovation of the Knock-up Hall at the National Stadium, Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that that the hall where players usually trained, had been locked up for almost three months now, leaving the players to train elsewhere.

    NAN reports that the renovation started last November and has renewed the hope of players to resume training at the hall.

    Popoola told NAN in Lagos that the renovation was timely as the country prepared for the Commonwealth Games, later in the year in Glasgow, Scotland.

    “The renovation is long overdue. It will, no doubt, go a long way in preparing our players for the Commonwealth Games,’’ he said.

    Popoola then commended the board of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), headed by Wahid Enitan-Oshodi, for the renovation.

    An NTTF official who sought anonymity told NAN that the renovation was necessary in order to bring back national athletes to the stadium, in preparation for the challenges ahead.

    “Our athletes now trained in various private clubs and mostly at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Yaba and at the Union Bank Sports Club, Surulere. But it is making the proper monitoring of the athletes difficult for the coaches and officials, especially now that we are preparing for the Commonwealth Games.

    “I believe the renovation will be completed before the end of this month, to enhance our preparation for the Games,’’ he said.

  • NTTF vows to stop age cheats in 2014

    NTTF vows to stop age cheats in 2014

    The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), on Wednesday declared that as from 2014, only athletes within the stipulated age grades would be registered for age-grade competitions.

    Anderson Bankole, NTTF Technical Director, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the competition included international ones.

    Bankole said that the federation at its last meeting had resolved to stop the incessant age-cheating issue currently affecting the growth of sports in the country.

    “We have mapped out strategies to tackle the issue of age cheats and it is important we squarely address it in 2014 because it is only through this that we can achieve our aims and objectives. Any athlete caught in this act will be sanctioned. It is time we put some sanity in place and make these athletes act rightly with the fear of God,’’ Bankole said.

    The director added that the federation would begin its camping in Lagos in January, ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

    “We want to have a remarkable outing at the Games, so we want to start preparations in earnest, for us so to achieve our aim. Our achievements at the Commonwealth Games would no doubt further prepare us for the Olympics in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro,’’ he said.

    Bankole added that 12 males and 12 females would be invited for camping out of which five each would be selected for the Games.

    “The selection would not be done on merit but on the skills exhibited by each of the players at the camp. They will compete among themselves to get a place at the Games.

    According to him, some senior male and female players would be part of the team, not as players, but as mentors, to brighten the hopes of the players.

    Bankole added that 2014 would be an eventful one for the federation because it had planned to organise many national competitions.

    “Among our national competitions is the hosting of the maiden 2014 Africa Top 16 Cup and the World Pro tour. We are not leaving room for laxity,’’ he said.

    Bankole added that that the federation had also registered to feature in many international competitions in 2014.