TheCable

Olufunke Oshonaike, renowned table tennis player, says Nigeria is blessed with raw talents in the sport but they lack adequate support from their coaches.

She said she was amazed by the quality of table tennis players she came across during a table tennis clinic organised for young players in the country.

The veteran of the sport said the clinic made her conclude that a lack of equipment and good coaching were the major challenges bedeviling the sport in the country.

“I am so impressed with the raw talents of the players. I had thought that things have gone bad and that we are lacking in quality players but after spending one week with the junior players, I was surprised with the quality of the players in terms of their raw talents, she said.

“This has led me to conclude that it is not that we are lacking in talents, the only problem is getting the right coaching for these young players.

“The idea of a coach scolding a player because he or she fails to win a match is a thing of the past.

“These players are ready to work hard but they need support and encouragement from the coaches and this can motivate them to do well.

“A coach must be like a father and mother to the players for them to learn from such coach and if all these are not there, there is nothing you can teach the players.

“Also coaches must also understand that these are young players and you must let them have fun for them to enjoy what they are doing.

“But If you insist on being strict every time, they will be reluctant to learn and this is also another major factor.”

The African champion said she hopes to partner Segun Toriola for future clinics in order to inspire young players to see the opportunities that abound in the sport.

“I am hoping that Toriola and I can work together for another clinic because these players just need more encouragement for them to become stars like us.

“I just hope we can have the time before this year’s Lagos Open to stage another clinic for these players because they need that consistency now. This kind of exercise should not be a one-off event,” said Oshonaike.