Ajetunmobi Olawale, Coach, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Table Tennis Club, said on Friday he could see “bright lights” ahead of his team in the ongoing Aso Table Tennis Competition.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria that he was optimistic in spite of poor start to the competition which had seen them manage five players to reach quarter final stage.
The 15th Edition of Aso Table Tennis Club Championships started on Thursday in Abuja.
“We came with 13 players for the championships, 10 females and three males.
” Both features in men’s and women’s singles category. we progressed on, now left with four females and one male that have reached the quarter final stages.
“We’ll face another test at quarter final stage on Saturday but l believe my team can build on its win over, which will help to lift it off the foot of final.
“I can really see the light. I’ve seen the light and I can see bright lights ahead for my team NSCDC.
“There can be bumps in the road within that light, but I can see a lot of light. We have to put a run together. We know how much we need the results and the performances will lead to that.
“If we do what we have to do during quarter final stages , we’ll be much closer to achieving our targets,” he said.
Olawale said his team had just Friday and Sunday to achieve its dreams and that they were well-prepared for the game.
“We know what we are facing. The challenge is going to be big because its one of the toughest places to go in the tournament. We are ready for it,” he said.
Describing the team’s first appearance in 2021, he said they came with just three players, an experience from which they were out from the earlier draw rounds .
Meanwhile, Olawale praised the organisers for adding more organisations and clubs to the championship, apart from only states involvement in previous editions before 2021.
“I am happy about the initiative. We still need more clubs and academies to join,” he said.
The coach urged the organisers to illuminate the venue properly, to improve the players’ visibility and make the place brighter and shinning.
“The bulbs there are not bright enough and most of players are complaining about non -visibility, l wish they could do correction before the players reach semi-final stage,” he said.
NAN reports that more than 300 players from 22 states and the FCT are taking part in the championship along with nine clubs.
The event, which started on Thursday, is expected to end on Sunday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the MKO Abiola Stadium.
The states and clubs participating in the event are Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Sokoto, Zamfara, Abia, Adamawa, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Kaduna, Gombe, Bayelsa, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Taraba and FCT.
The clubs are Aruna Sports Club, Academy Banana Club, Canaan TT Club, Galadima Sports Club, Ibadan Prestige, NPF, NSCDC, Nyanya Settlement Club and Ozone.(
(NAN)