Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall Wears New Look Ahead Of NTTF National League.

The atmosphere enjoyed during the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour tagged Lagos Open will again be ignited from Thursday October 9 as the venue -Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium now wears new look.

With efforts by board of NTTF to provide a conducive environment for the players to showcase their talents, all is now set for the kick off as teams are expected to arrive on Wednesday October 8 for the tournament.
The ITTF approved floor will be used while the new plastic ball will also be deployed for the championship.

Referee of the tournament, John Peters said from the response received so far, the stage is set for the commencement of the competition, which he said would provide a platform for the local players to showcase their talents.

Meanwhile, Coach of Sunshine of Akure, Dotun Omoniyi believes the absence of star player – Ojo Onaolapo would affect the team’s target in Lagos.

Onaolapo, who at the weekend moved to Italy to pursue his professional career was instrumental to the team’s triumph during the pilot league organized earlier this year.

“We will be arriving Lagos on Wednesday as we are rounding up our training for the competition. There is no doubt it is going to be exciting this time around especially with the number of teams as well as the quality of players expected to be part of the championship.

 I am going to present two male teams and one female team and I am sure that we will not disappoint our fans in Lagos. I am indeed so excited that the NTTF is putting this kind of tournament together for the home-based players and this will surely make them to be in good form for major competitions,” he said.

On the absence Onaolapo, Omoniyi said: “We will surely miss him because his experience will have helped the team. But he has to move forward in his career. Even when we won the pilot league, I did not want to use him but he played and sincerely his performance aided the team in clinching the title.”

Captain of Springfresh, Ayo Omotara is optimistic that his lads would not play to the gallery during the league, as they have not strengthened the team with young players.
“We are going to be assembling two formidable teams including a female tea for the tournament but this time around, we have decided to fortify the team with young and tested players like Azeez Solanke who is Lagos junior champion. Teams like Sunshine, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps as well as Union Bank are major threats but we will not be intimidated by their pedigree as rating does not win matches,” the Eko 2012 National Sports Festival gold medalist said.
Olympics system will be used for the championship; while the new International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) approved plastic balls will be used during the competition in order to acquaint the players with the new balls.