Coach Hopeful Of Nigerian Team In Tennis Tourney

Head Coach, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Nasiru Bello, has said that he was hopeful that the Nigerian team to the West African Cadet Table Tennis Championships would not disappoint.

The Nigerian team comprising nine players departed Lagos for Cote d’Ivoire yesterday by road for the championships, holding between February 21 and 24.

Bello told Tidesports that most of the players were selected because of their exceptional performance at the recent National Schools Sports Festival in Port Harcourt.

“Majority of the players were discovered from the school sports festival in Port Harcourt and there is no better way to test them than exposing them to international tournaments,’’ he said.

Bello said the exposure would give them the needed experience to develop.

He said the nine players had been training for a month to prepare them for the regional championships.

“I made sure that the players started preparation immediately after the school sports festival and with what I have seen, they will not disappoint.

“They may not be exceptionally good now, but with time and experience, they will improve,” he said.

Bello named the players for the U-18 male category as Jide Omotayo and Kehinde Awobajo.

For the male U-15 category is Michael Obayomi, while Ahmed Osibanjo and Martins Abass will feature in the male U-13.

In the female U-15 are Ifiok Udoh and Mary Mbah, while Tosin Oribamise and Blessing Eniola will feature in the U-13.

The officials are Segun Oguntade, who is the Chef de Mission, while Nasiru Bello and Ajayi Olubode are coach and assistant coach, respectively.