Potentials Of Female Cadet Team Excites NTTF Sec

The Secretary, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Segun Oguntade, has predicted that the current female cadet team will be formidable, if properly trained ahead of major competitions.

Oguntade told newsmen in Lagos that with adequate training and exposure, the upcoming female players would dominate the game not just in Africa but at the world level.

“We need to build the female cadet team because we do not have committed female players. They need to be developed thoroughly through competitions.

“They may be defeated now at championships but there is something called transition and we hope that as they graduate, they will become more powerful and experienced.

“We hope to continue grooming them, if Nigerians can be patient, we have talents in this country who can become fantastic players not just in Africa but at the world stage,’’ he said.

Some of the upcoming players are: Tosin Oribamise, who won gold medal at the 2013 World Cadet and Junior Global Circuit held in Tunisia in March, Onyinyechi Mbah and Ayo Udom.

He, however, appealed to sponsors to identify with the sport, saying one major issue hindering players’ participation in international championships had been poor funding.

“One major factor militating against the development of players is the inability to attend international competitions.

“ Without competitions, these players cannot gain the experiences to perform at international stage,’’ he said.