Stage Set For Grand Finale Of Lagos Table Tennis League.

After seven weeks of table tennis action the top ten teams that will compete in the grand finale of the Lagos State Table Tennis league have emerged with Union Bank Sports and Springfresh topping to list.

Although, Union Bank dominated the men and women events of the championship, youthful team like Springfresh, which has been a threat to the bankers’ team also secured places in the finale scheduled for this Thursday at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Rowe Park in Yaba.

With the stage set for the finale, all eyes will be on Union Bank in the men’s event, while the tussle for the coveted prize in the women event will be between bankers’ ladies and foreign-based Union Maritime ladies.

For the captain of Springfresh, Ayo Omotara, winning the title remains their target having worked hard to be among the top five teams that made it to the finale.

“At this level of the championship, I think it is high time we halted the dominance of Union Bank because they seem to be cocky about their performance so far this season. I am confident that we can achieve what we have not been able to do in the last seven weeks. I know it is a tall order but I believe it is achievable. What I will be telling my players is for them to believe in themselves and give their best as well as fight for every point in all their matches,” Omotara.

However, captain of Union Bank, Kazeem Adeniyi dismissed Omotara’s boasting, saying, “matches are not won on the pages of newspapers.”

He said: “I quite acknowledge that Springfresh remains the only team that can stand between us and the overall title but with our wealth of experience coupled with the support we have been getting from the management of the bank, I believe we are home and dry for the title. It is going to be tough because lots of people will be around to witness the finale and I know my teammates are up to the task.”

Meanwhile, the organisers of the tournament, Lagos State Table Tennis Association (LSTTA) are working tirelessly to ensure that the finale is glamorous.

With mouthwatering prizes for grab at the finale, the players are at present shaping up across the state in readiness for Thursday epic final.

Aside Union Bank and Springfresh expected to play in the finale, others are Nigeria Police, J30, Free Style and Olufab in the men’s event, while the women’s event has teams like Union Maritime, Union Bank, Springfresh, J30, Nigeria Police, Yet Kad, Olufab, Surmer and Osaka.

According to the technical director of the competition, John Peters, the 10 teams will be divided into two groups with the two top teams in each group progressing to the semifinal stage.

The Oniru Royal Family of Lagos Island bankrolls the championship.