Having churned out some of the
country’s finest stars in the last 50years,, the annual Asoju Oba Cup has
become the bedrock of modern table tennis in Nigeria.
These were the views of the former
Lagos State Commissioner for Sports, Wahid Oshodi who described the longest
running table tennis in Africa has a breeding ground for world beaters.
The Asoju Oba Cup is the bedrock and foundation of modern day
table tennis in Nigeria. A great majority of our top players over the last 50
years have honed their craft playing in this tournament.
To win the Asoju
OBA Cup would be the crowning glory of any player and a stepping stone into the
National teams. The National Coaches over the years themselves have all come
through this tournament and they in turn use it as a hunting ground for young
talent.
“One should also note that with the Asoju OBA Cup unlike other
tournaments the prizes don’t end with the tournament but the late sponsor – Sir
Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas continues to support the players education and
careers. He along with Late Dr. Efunkoya and a very select few are the true
fathers of table tennis in Nigeria,” Oshodi said.
The former President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation
(NTTF), said the tournament has become table tennis Olympic Games in Lagos.
“This tournament was our Olympics in Lagos. It was a week-long
jamboree. Different categories of players from veterans of yesteryears to the
mini cadets all had a stake l. It was always something to look forward to and
it was a festival of table tennis.
For us on the technical side, it gave us a
great chance to see how the players performed under the gaze of the large
crowds that always came to watch. It was a test not only of skill but composure
also which is very important for a top player.
The sponsor gave massive
financial support to the tournament and the players. It just made us so proud
that such a tournament existed in our city. If we were sometimes doubtful about
funding for our events this was not the case for the Asoju Oba Cup,” he added.
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