President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Wahid Oshodi, has reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to supporting African coaches in their efforts to improve their skills and grow alongside their players.
Speaking at the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation’s National Hopes Week in Lagos, Oshodi highlighted the importance of building a strong coaching foundation through continuous training and development. He noted that coaches must evolve with the sport and their players to compete globally.
Oshodi cited the recent Level 2 Coaching Course in Tunisia and said more training opportunities will be offered. He stressed the need to start developing players from a young age, saying, “The best players in the world now are under 21. We need kids playing U-9 and U-10 to start early and develop properly.”
He praised the progress made in Nigeria, especially through the National Hopes Week, which featured 30 to 40 young players from across the country. “Our coaches are improving, and new training courses are in the pipeline to further build their capacity. We’re pleased with the results so far,” he added.
Chairman of the Lagos State Table Tennis Association, Tunji Lawal, also commended the initiative, saying it showcases the future of Nigerian table tennis. “We see future stars like Aruna Quadri in these children. Even if Lagos is not in the finals, it shows where we need to work harder. We’ll continue pushing for excellence,” Lawal said.
