In a significant step towards enhancing the technical capacity of table tennis coaches across the continent, Wahid Enitan Oshodi, President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), has reiterated the federation’s ongoing support for coaching education. His renewed pledge came during a keynote appearance at the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation’s (NTTF) National Hopes Week, a program dedicated to identifying and nurturing young table tennis talents in the country.
Addressing coaches, players, and stakeholders at the event held in Lagos, Oshodi stressed the crucial role of coach development in raising the standard of play across all levels. According to him, African coaches must be equipped to grow alongside their players by consistently updating their training methodologies through certified courses and technical programs.
Drawing on recent examples, Oshodi pointed to the Level 2 Coaching Course hosted in Tunisia as part of a structured pathway for coaches. He disclosed that those who participated in last year’s International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Level 1 Coaching Course had already been integrated into the federation’s long-term coaching framework.
He emphasized that coaching development must be intentional, stating,
“There must be a clear pathway. Coaches who took part in last year’s training are now part of a system where we can monitor their work. We’re keen on seeing the players they’ve been developing and how far they’ve progressed.”
Oshodi also highlighted the urgency of grooming elite players from an early age. He noted that with the global shift toward younger champions—many of whom peak before 21—Africa must invest in its youth accordingly.
“If we want to compete globally, we can’t afford to delay. Players must start strong from the under-9 and under-10 categories. Right now, the top players in the world are mostly under 21. So, we need to align our strategy accordingly,” he stated.
Reflecting on the NTTF National Hopes Week program, Oshodi expressed satisfaction with the depth of talent on display. He confirmed that over 30 children from various regions across Nigeria were participating in the initiative, further demonstrating the country’s rich reservoir of young talent.
He praised the coaches for their dedication and noted improvements in their skill levels, adding that the federation is actively working to secure more training opportunities for them.
“We’re seeing real progress in our coaching system, and the results are beginning to reflect that. We’re committed to organizing more technical courses so that these coaches can better transfer their expertise to the younger generation,” Oshodi affirmed.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Lagos State Table Tennis Association, Tunji Lawal, also commended the initiative and echoed Oshodi’s views on early development and long-term investment in local coaching.
Lawal pointed out that while the tournament serves as a breeding ground for talent, it also reveals areas requiring improvement.
“This is the future of Nigerian table tennis. Seeing these kids play at this level gives us hope. Even if Lagos didn’t make it to the finals, it tells us there’s more work to be done. We’ll keep pushing to raise our players to a competitive level,” Lawal stated.
He also referenced Nigerian star Aruna Quadri as an example of what the right structure and perseverance can achieve, adding that continued support for grassroots development could yield similar success stories shortly.
With the federation’s next round of coaching programs approaching, the emphasis remains clear: coaching education is not an optional upgrade but a necessary foundation for producing Africa’s next table tennis champions.
