ITTF Challenge: Obisanya Decries Players’ Poor Performance

A former national coach, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Babatunde Obisanya, has attributed the country’s poor performance at the just-concluded Seamaster ITTF Challenge Nigeria Open to poor technical foundation.
Obisanya told newsmen in Lagos that it was terrible not to have medals to show after hosting such a standard championships in the country.
Tidesports  reports that the 46, 000 dollars prize money tournament was hosted by the NTTF at the Molade Okoya Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, from August  9 to August 13.
The championships attended by 95 male and 55 females from 22 countries featured events in the  U-21 Boys and Girls, Men’s and Women’s Singles and Mixed Doubles.
“The championships were well-organised, and I must give credit to the Local Organising Committee for such impressive activity; but unfortunately, there is nothing to show for the effort by our players.
“Although the players tried in their various events but the fact is that their foundation lacks technical depth and that has affected the entire system and the state of the sport.
“This championships, without mincing words, can be compared to any international competition anywhere in the world but even with home advantage, nothing came out of it,” he said.
Obisanya therefore, called on the NTTF and stakeholders to wake up and do something significant to restore the defective foundation, adding that coaching was not a job for the boys.
“With all due respect, our coaches need more knowledge to regularly polish the skills of players under their watch because you can only give what you have.
“On this note, as with the performances of the Nigerian players in the tournament, the board should know what to do but must take proactive and prompt measures,” he said.
Obisanya said that regular competitions should also be organised to expose the players to circuits, regularly appraise their forms and make them get familiar with competitions.