After working with more than 20 junior and cadet players for one week, African table tennis queen, Olufunke Oshonaike believes untapped talents still abound in Nigeria.
“Before the clinic, I thought they said we don’t have talented players again but with the few days I spent in Lagos, I discovered that we still have the unrefined talents who just need some encouragement to become world beaters. In Europe, players are exposed to qualify equipment and good coaching and this alone motivate them. Unfortunately in Nigeria, all these are not available while the frustration across the country is also taking its toll on sports as nobody cares about the challenges of the players,” she said.
“I am hoping that Toriola and I can work together for another clinic because these players just need more encouragement for them to become stars like us. I just hope we can have the time in July before the Lagos Open, to stage another clinic for these players because they need that consistency now. This kind of exercise should not be a one-off event,” Oshonaike promised.
The most decorated female table tennis star lauded the support she got from the President, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi, Frot Group and the Editor, The Nation, Gbenga Omotoso, while hoping that more sponsors would come on board in subsequent clinics.
Tag: Olufunke Oshonaike
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Nigerian table tennis talents are unique – Oshonaike
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Oshonaike …nurturing future stars
At 42, Olufunke Oshonaike has continued to show her passion and commitment to table tennis, the sport that brought her to the limelight. At present, Oshonaike is the best female table tennis player in Africa after winning the African Championship in Morocco last year. However, the Germany-based mother of two told OLALEKAN OKUSAN that she was pained about the dwindling fortunes of the sport and this has prompted her to organise a clinic. She also spoke on the need for athletes to be discipline in their trade.
IN the history of the African Games, Olufunke Oshonaike is the most successful female table tennis player having won more medals than any other player. She was three-time finalist in the women’s singles event of the African Games while she remains the only player to have won the women’s singles title back-to-back in 1999 and 2003.
However, with the emergence of young players like Dina Meshref, Nadeen El-Dawlatly and Edem Offiong, Olufunke Oshonaike rating waned. But she never gave up as she continued to show deep passion for the sport with her presence in virtually all the continental competitions.
In most of the competitions, she ensured she made it to the last four, but her efforts never fetch her expected laurels.
She, however, braved the odds to become Africa’s champion again and she did it in an amazing fashion in Morocco last October. As the only female Nigerian player competing at the 2016 ITTF African Championships amidst the array of players from Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria, Oshonaike in her 40s turned back the clock with an emphatic 4-2 win over defending champion, Dina Meshref of Egypt to emerge as the best female player in the competition.
Based in Hamburg, Germany with her family, Oshonaike is, however, sad that the fortunes of female players in Nigeria is going down and she decided to organise a clinic for junior players in Nigeria.
According to Oshonaike, the essence of the 10-day camping exercise is to inspire and motivate the players to passionately be committed to the sport.
“Not many of the players know my story but I started like them too. But during our days, discipline was very key and we took the sport very serious. I can understand the frustration most Nigerian athletes are faced with in recent times particularly considering the economic recession in the country. But I still want them to know that they can make name for themselves and their families when they take the sport serious.
“They must be committed to the sport and that is part of the things I intend to share with them during the camp. My focus is basically on the female players because we are not producing top class female players like before,” she lamented.
“I love table tennis and the sport has given me all what I need in life. Apart from the fame, I have made a tidy fortune from the sport. All these were made possible because I was committed to the sport and this made it possible for me to achieve all what I wanted to. Unfortunately these days, the Nigerian players are frustrated because of lack of exposure and this has discouraged most of them.
“I am hopeful that the clinic will help to the kids focus on their table tennis career. I want to use the opportunity to inspire and also help them with some equipment that will aid them in training. I really want to focus on the female players and I hope that after telling them my story, they will be encouraged to aim high in the sport,” she said.
Oshonaike revealed that apart from the clinic, top 16 boys and girls in the country would also compete in a two-day tournament to ascertain the best in the country. She added that the top players in the mini-tournament would get her support to become the world beaters in the game.
The six-time Olympian believes the gesture will surely give the players hope. “I believe when top players like us organise such programme for the young players, they can be inspired and motivated to take a cue from us. I am hoping to arrive in Lagos, Nigeria on February 24 for the clinic that will begin on February 25 to March 5 at the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) Training Centre of the Lagos National Stadium,” she added.
The invited players for the clinic are made up of 11 girls and nine boys and they are expected to also use the tournament to tune up for the forthcoming African Junior Championships holding in Tunisia come April.
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20 players for Oshonaike table tennis clinic in Lagos
Twenty junior players drawn across the country, have been listed for the Olufunke Oshonaike table tennis clinic scheduled for February 25 to March 5 in Lagos.
The clinic is the brainchild of six-time Olympian who felt that the players need to be inspired and groomed to become world beaters.
The invited players are made up of 11 girls and nine boys and they are expected to arrive in Lagos on February 25 for the 10-day exercise holding at the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) National Training Centre of the Lagos National Stadium.
According to the Germany-based African champion, the essence of the 10-day camping exercise is to inspire and motivate the players to be passionately committed to the sport.
“I love table tennis and the sport has given me all what I need in life. Apart from the fame, I have made a tidy fortune from the sport. All these were made possible because I was committed to the sport and this had made it possible for me to achieve all what I needed. Unfortunately these days, Nigerian players are frustrated because of lack of exposure and this has discouraged most of them. I am hopeful that the clinic will help to re-launch them back to reckoning and I want to use the opportunity to inspire and also help them with some equipment that will aid them in training. I really want to focus on the female players because we have not been producing top female players like before and I hope that after telling them my story, they will be encouraged to aim high in the sport,” she said.
The six-time Olympian believes the gesture will surely give the players hope that with discipline and hard work, they can reap from their efforts in the sport. “I believe when top players like us organise such programme for the young players, they can be inspired and motivated to take a cue from us. I am hoping to arrive in Lagos on February 24 for the clinic that will begin on February 25 to March 5 at the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) Training Centre of the Lagos National Stadium,” she added.
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Am fulfilled as Africa’s No. 2 -Oshonaike
Africa’s oldest serving female table tennis player, Olufunke Oshonaike, on Saturday described her No. 2 ranking in Africa after her triumph at the 2016 ITTF African Championships in Morocco as fulfilling.
Oshonaike told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) over the telephone from her base in Germany that she was happy and felt complete with the ranking.
“ This is a ranking I must say is well deserved, I worked so hard for it and I am happy my efforts yielded a positive result.
“This ranking actually means a lot to me and it is very dear to my heart.
“To be candid, I never expected it and I am on top of the world with so much joy and happiness,’’ she told NAN.
NAN reports that the mother of two boys reclaimed the title she last won in 2003 and is currently the African Women’s Singles Table Tennis champion.
The Olympian added that she was Nigeria’s lone female representative at the competition in Morocco and that it dampened her spirit.
“I was so sad that the government did not provide money for other female players to participate. It was frustrating because I was the only female.
“Miraculously, I found myself in the final against the number one player in Africa who had yet to lose any match to an African in the past five years.
“ It was like a mission impossible but I decided to give my best shot at it.
“My coach, Segun Toriola, who was in Morocco to cheer me, told me to just hang on there and enjoy myself. I did and my opponent was making mistakes to my advantage.
“I’m so happy because it’s like a divine arrangement to crown my efforts.
“This action has cut out the country for two global competitions coming up in 2017 and 2018,’’ she said.
NAN reports that in spite of her age (41), Oshonaike is still waxing stronger in the game and has become a role model to players in the continent.
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ITTF Africa Ranking: Oshonaike is second best in Africa
For her triumph at the ITTF Africa Senior Championship in Agadir, Morocco, Nigeria’s Olufunke Oshonaike has returned to the elite position in the latest ITTF African ranking as the African champion is now rated second in the continent.
In the ranking released at the weekend by the technical chairman of ITTF Africa, Mokhtar Toukabri, Egypt’s Omar Assar remains the best male player in the continent after his 4-3 victory over Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri in the final of the ITTF Africa Senior Championship.
However, Aruna Quadri has closed up the point gap with Assar as six points separated the two best players in Africa.
Also, seven-time Olympian, Nigeria’s Segun Toriola has moved to the fourth place in Africa despite losing in the quarter-final at the Morocco tournament to Omar Assar.
Despite losing to 2-4 to Oshonaike in Morocco, Egypt’s Dina Meshref is still the best in Africa with 251 points while Oshonaike has 199 points to beat Egypt’s recuperating Nadeen El-Dawlatly to second place in the ranking list.
Algeria’s made its presence felt in the ranking list as Lynda Loghraibi has moved to fourth place in the women ranking list. -
ITTF Ranking: Aruna Quadri ends 2016 on 25th spot
Nigeria’s Aruna Quadri maintained his status for three consecutive months as world number 25 in the December ITTF World Ranking released yesterday by the world table tennis ruling body.
With just one point, Quadri garnered in his second exit at the Austrian Open, the 2014 ITTF Star Player now has 2446 from 2445 he had in November 2016.
With this, he ends 2016 as the highest ranked African player in the world, while his continental rival – Egypt’s Omar Assar moved four steps up the ranking ladder, as the ITTF African Senior Championships winner is now rated 45th from 49th in November.
Seven-time Olympian, Segun Toriola remains the third best African despite dropping from 101 to 106 in the latest ranking.
Bode Abiodun also dropped from 175 to 196 in the November ranking to become the fifth best African player in the world.
In the women ranking, African champion, Olufunke Oshonaike may have dropped to 209 from 206 in the world, but she held on as the third best ranked female African player in the world as Egypt’s Dina Meshref and Nadeen El-Dawlatly held onto the top two spots in the continent despite sliding in the latest ranking.
Meanwhile, China’s Ma Long and Ning Ding held on as the best players in the men and women ranking. Despite their inactiveness in the last two months, Long and Ding remain the highest rated players in the world. The top three spots in the men and women ranking are still being dominated by the Chinese. -
Morocco triumph will inspire young players – Oshonaike
After reclaiming her title 24 years after, Olufunke Oshonaike believes the victory in morocco would surely inspire young female players in Nigeria.
Oshonaike, who defeated former African champion, Egypt’s Dina Meshref to emerge as the new continental champion at the ITTF Africa Senior Championships held in Agadir, Morocco.
The 41-year-old six-time Olympian first won the African title in 1992 with her last triumph coming in 2002.
“I am so excited that I can still do it and this is also an inspiration for girls that no matter your age, you can achieve whatever you want to in life. My victory in Morocco is a lesson to the young ones that they should not give up irrespective of the challenges they are facing in the country. A lot of things are happening in Nigeria that could frustrate one, but still they should not give up. Forget about what the coaches are doing or what the country is doing to you, just be focused and love and enjoy what you are doing and surely, you will get there one day. Even when you are married with kids, you can still get to where you want to get to,” Oshonaike said.
The Germany-based star is not ready to quit the sport that she has been playing in the last two decades saying, “I’m not going to stop playing until I find anybody that could beat me. Until the young girls are ready to take over and if they are not ready, I’ll keep on playing for my country. After all, my family and children are not disturbing me. They love seeing me play. But as soon as I see any serious contender, I’ll throw-in the towel and take a bow.” -
Quadri remains 25th in ITTF World Ranking
Despite not making it beyond the first round at the ITTF World Cup coupled with his second place finish at the last ITTF Africa Senior Championships, Aruna Quadri maintained his 25th spot in the latest International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) world ranking released at the weekend.
Also in the November world ranking, African women’s singles champion, Olufunke Oshonaike made a giant stride in the world rating as the Germany-based star rose to 206 from 253 as the highest ranked Nigerian female player in the world.
Seven-time Olympian, Segun Toriola also moved up the ranking as the former African champion is now rated 101 from 109 where he was in October. Toriola maintained his place as the third highest ranked African player in the world.
Bode Abiodun also moved from 183 to 175 in the ranking while Azeez Jamiu, Olajide Omotayo and Nurudeen Hassan made entries into the ranking list.
Quadri’s conqueror at the ITF Africa Senior Championships, Egypt’s Omar Assar fortune improved in the latest ranking as the Egyptian rose from 57 to 49.
Meanwhile, Quadri has solicited the support of his fans globally to vote for him as the ITTF Star Player of the year through the ITTFStarawards.com. -
Nigeria battles Egypt in mixed doubles final
Experience and youthfulness will come to fore at the ongoing ITTF Africa Senior Championships as Nigeria’s duo of Segun Toriola and Olufunke Oshonaike battle against Egypt’s Omar Assar and Dina Meshref in the final of the mixed doubles event.
From the round of 16, it was his experience that gave Toriola and Oshonaike the victory as they overcame South Africa, Algeria and Egypt to set up a final against the defending champion, Assar and Meshref.
Ahead of Thursday’s final, Egypt’s Meshref said: “In the final against two of Africa’s most experienced players in Africa, Nigeria’s Segun Toriola and Olufunke Oshonaike, I am so excited playing against these top players. I look forward to an exciting match and I hope we can retain our title.”
However, a confident Oshonaike said: “In the final, we are just going there to win the first title for Nigeria and it will be good that it is going to be Toriola and I that will win be playing and hoping to win the title. But I must also acknowledge the quality of Assar Omar and Meshref Dina as the defending champion and we will surely try our best in the final.”
Meanwhile, the draws for the singles and doubles event hold today with all eyes on Aruna Quadri and Omar Assar – the tournament’s top seeds.
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Govt’s attitude to other sports is discouraging – Oshonaike
As Nigeria’s sole representative in the female event of the ongoing ITTF African Senior Championships, Olufunke Oshonaike is not happy with the attitude of government to other sports, saying that it is killing the spirit of the athletes.
The Germany-based star told NationSport that for the second time within a year, Nigeria female team is missing major championships in the ITTF calendar.
“I am sincerely not happy that despite the honours and laurels that table tennis has brought and still bringing to Nigeria, the government has not deemed it fit to show concern particularly in supporting the athletes to attend major competitions.
“I personally met the Sports Minister and the permanent secretary during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil that they should support other sports but with the absence of my teammates in Morocco, it is clear that nothing has changed. I could remember that when the football team wanted to play in Zambia last week, the money to get a chartered plane was released from nowhere but when it comes to other sports, the story seems to be the same.
“This is not too good. How can you imagine that Aruna Quadri who was celebrated worldwide and even by the Minister is yet to get support from his country? The young man has been sponsoring himself to major competitions across the globe but when the successes start coming, everybody will start to identify with him.
“Most of the countries in Morocco are not even richer or better than Nigeria but they are all here in Morocco and Nigeria which is regarded as African giant could not sponsor a team to the competition. I am not happy with those in charge of our sports and they have shown that they are not interested in other sports but when it comes to the successes of other sports, they will be the ones to be at the forefront celebrating the feat.
“I have nothing to gain again from playing the game as I am just there to encourage the younger players and I can imagine what those players will be feeling. I must also say categorically, that this present government care less of other sports with priority always to football.
“What does it cost to sponsor 16 players to a competition in Morocco? This cannot be compared to what they spend on the football team. Most of the male players sponsor themselves again to the competition and this is not too good as most of them are bread winners to their families,” she added.