Ibadan based businessman and table-tennis enthusiast, Tope Ajanaku has commended the efforts of the athletes that represented Oyo State at the recently concluded National Sports Festival (NSF) hosted by the nation’s capital, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Ajanaku who made the call while addressing the sporting press at his K’Dream Hotel and Suite and Club E3, Orita Challenge, Odo-Ona Elewe Ibadan pledged a personal compensation for the duo of Funmilola Ajala and 59 year old Taofeeq Maya for sending home the two Olympians, Segun Toriola and Funke Oshonaike in mixed doubles.
“I was so thrilled watching our athletes from Oyo State, Funmilola Ajala and 59 year old Taofeeq Maya rattling the well experienced duo of Toriola and Oshonaike who have gone to a combined 13 Olympic games in the mixed double event to create one of the biggest upset so far at the National Sports Festival.”, he noted.
“And that is what I always say, that we have good table-tennis players here, even among us that are not professional who play it for leisure, I will like to encourage the athletes even if the government doesn’t, and I am doing this so that they can put more efforts in their subsequent outings”, the hotelier popularly known as Topmost reiterated.
He, however, hinted of his plan to stage a big amateur table-tennis competition come early 2019, where professionals and the working class can compete among themselves in a well-secured and conducive atmosphere and win prizes.
“We realize that table-tennis that is being played in the nooks and crannies of most cities in the South/West, which I believe was is what helps the nation to get good players that win laurels in many African championship, is no more, so something has to be done towards bringing back people’s interest in the game
“The tournament will allow people to catch fun while some awareness will also be created for the game, as I will like to urge our parents to provide table-tennis facilities at home and encourage their wards to take to the game. Carrying out sporting activities not only contribute to mental development of people but it also improves their level of fitness”, Topmost noted.
Packaged by Olanrewaju Agiri
