By Daily Sports on October 26, 2015

To keen followers of table tennis in Nigeria, it is obvious that the good times are here again. Things, no doubt, have started to look up. The sport that went down on its knees after the good old days – when corporate bodies like the United Bank for Africa, Cadbury, Coscharis, among others, took the lead in sponsorship of the ping-pong sport –  is now back on its feet. No doubt, that era has remained the finest hour of the game, when fame, money and materials were provided by these corporate concerns, which enabled players to enjoy their sporting career. 
It is instructive to note that it was during that period in the 1980’s that Nigeria competed strongly amongst the otherwise first-rate countries in the continent and the world. It witnessed what could be described as the golden era, when Nigeria gave Egypt, for instance, the run for her leadership position in Africa and many times, the Nigerian male and female players defeated the North Africans in some of the events.
It was the same story at the world stage, when the country plays China. It was not always an easy one for the famed originators of the sport to overcome their Nigerian counterparts. The trend continued until those cultured and highly structured corporate bodies, for one cogent reason or the other, pulled out of the system.
It is edifying to note that it was from thence on that the sport went into comatose, as government and sundry subventions failed to sustain the standard and tempo instituted by UBA, Cadbury, Coscharis and others. Such ugly trend became its lot as the sport continued a downward journey. Fortunately, respite came when the urbane immediate past Commissioner of Sports in Lagos State, Wahid Enitan Oshodi, a legal practitioner, mounted the saddle of the federation as NTTF boss.
He came when the sport was already on its knees, but the hard-working and suave administrator started his mission of restoration with relative precision: meeting all ex-internationals and players for vital information that led to the roots of how the once-talk-of-the-town sport went under. Given his notable sports pedigree, he knew what awaits him; and being someone that never takes no for an answer, he equally took the bull by the horn with his team and went straight to work. The result has started to manifest glaringly: many of our table tennis players have started to rise, showing deep interest in the game once again. That is vintage Wahid Enitan Oshodi.
Let me also confess that the beauty of the steps he took paid off handsomely, as it gave him an ample direction which prepared him firmly to know where the roof was leaking and went straight for the right solution.  Whatever went wrong is gradually being rewritten. As he armed himself with first hand information, hence he and his team are proffering right doses that have made the sport show some good signs of quick resurgence. Little wonder, therefore, he came up with the antidote; which has not only brought life and vigour into the once breathless sport but has placed it on the road map to recovery. 
One thing must be observed here, he is not a noise maker or an attention seeker. He allows the result of his work speak for him. In short, he is not a media person. As President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, he does not position himself to speak to the media unwittingly. To his credit, many corporate bodies have found confidence in the sport once again. He has single-handedly attracted them to sponsor the activities of the game, which has effectively placed it once again on a solid path, as one of the national sports federations that can readily boast of having the ears of sponsors at any given point in time. However, such did not come on a platter of gold. Rather, it was a pure case of focus, determination, hard work, diligence, zeal and ability to do things differently. In short, he is a high performer. Let me say here that this writer is not close to Mr Oshodi. However, I have had interview with him a number of times from a distance, as a reporter.

His antecedents as the president of NTTF prompted this close up on him as a worthy selfless leader, patriotic and resourceful sports administrator of this new generation.
What the sport has lost over the years is gradually being recovered. For example, the forthrightness and managerial acumen of this leader who asks questions to know more. Our table tennis players are once again being taken serious among the comity of table tennis world. The International Table Tennis Federation has also beamed its searchlight on Nigeria, signifying that its activities have resumed here once again. This recognition never came easy. Neither is one making a mountain out of a mole hill of the achievements he and his team brought to the sport within the short time they have been there. Above all, the achievements were made possible by the fact that he is he is a team player. Notwithstanding, if you meet him, he will tell you that much still needs to be done in the cause of growing the sport. He will readily tell you that he has not brought anything new to the table of the game. He will tell you that he would love to see our players being ranked amongst the best in the continent and the world. No doubt, Oshodi has shown grit and steadfastness for table tennis. He is not tired, as he would say that he and his team have just started. The rebuilding of the sport that has been in comatose for years will take some couple of years to get full hold on.

The good news is that he has laid the right and solid foundation for rapid development of the sport from the grassroots. Fans and other pundits of the game are glad that someone like Wahid Enitan Oshodi has the guts and finesse to breathe life and direction into this sport once again. Meanwhile, we can take it from there!

•Enyinnaya can be reached via 08055060145 (sms only) or by e-mail via sportzvictor@yahoo.co.au

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 26, 2015

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