NTTF Vows To Mount Hunt For New Stars

The Vice President, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Orok Otu- Duke, has vowed that the federation would have to go back to the grassroots to scout for budding talents.

Duke told newsmen in Lagos, that the NTTF would detail its coaches to set about the task of grooming new players for the country.

“We are going to insist for people to leave the headquarters and go back to the states to produce players.

“Nobody is going to hang around there because there is no way you can be a national coach without players. So, who else will produce the players,’’ he said.

Duke complained that the country’s pool of players was drying up, and stressed that there was need to quickly find new and talented replacements.

“The pool of players is drying up, Toriola, Maba and Funke are aging and they will soon retire.

“ So, there is need for us to discover new players, otherwise we will soon disappear from the map and when Egypt is taking over, we will be nowhere,’’ he said.

He appealed to coaches to minimise their animosity towards some of their players, by judging and selecting wrongly.

“For you to be a good coach you don’t need to bear grudges against players, you cannot hate a player to a point that you will not invite the player to the national camp.

“There should be a disciplined side in place, but they must balance it with skills,’’ he added.