After doubts about Nigeria’s table tennis team’s
participation in the recently concluded African
Championships in Morocco, due to lack of funds, 42-year
Olufunke Oshonaike sponsored herself to the championship
and also proved that age is just a number as she emerged
the new African women’s table tennis champion. This
victory is coming 16 years after she first won the coveted
African title. Kunle Adewale reports
Last Sunday, Olufunke Oshonaike emerged the new African
women’s table tennis champion after overpowering her
Egyptian opponent, Dina Meshref in a keenly contested
game to win Nigeria’s second title at the African
Championships in Morocco.
“I knew it was going to be tough because Meshref was the
African champion and she had been unbeaten in the last
two years. I just told myself to go out there and have fun
and show my experience. When it started working, I gained
more confidence.
“But when the match was 2-2, my coach, Segun Toriola,
told me not to give up and I kept on going and it worked for
me at last. This victory means a lot to me; that I can still
become African champion at my age. It shows that nothing
is impossible regardless of age inasmuch as you put your
mind to it. I am so happy despite the challenges of making
it to Morocco. I feel great and I am so excited that I can still
do it. This is also an inspiration for girls; no matter your
age, you can achieve whatever you put your mind to in life.
“It means a lot to me after a long time of waiting. I never
expected it. I never even dreamt about it. It was like as if
I’m still dreaming,” an elated Oshonaike said after the game
The six times Olympian said her feat in Morocco was a
lesson to up-coming ping pongers.
“My victory in Morocco is a lesson to the young ones that
they should not give up irrespective of the challenges they
are facing in the country. A lot of things are happening in
Nigeria that could frustrate one, but still they should not
give up. Forget about what the coaches are doing or what
the country is doing to you, just be focused and love and
enjoy what you are doing and surely, you will get there one
day. Even when you are married with kids, you can still get
to where you want to get to.”
She has kind words for the President of the Nigeria Table
Tennis Federation, NTTF, Enitan Oshodi.
“I’m so happy that he is at the helms of affairs of table
tennis in Nigeria. If not for him, I would have thrown-in the
towel. He was the one that really encouraged me to play in
the championship and I would like to thank him for
everything he has done for table tennis in the country.
However, he alone cannot do it, the sports ministry should
work more and encourage more sponsors and help take
table tennis to what it used to be before, so that we can our
table tennis glory back from the Egyptians.
“Things were not the way it used to be when we started the
game as a young schoolgirl years back. Then, there were a
lot a competitions, which kept us busy and also helped to
improve our skills, but not so any more. This is very
unfortunate and its really taking its toll on the upcoming
players; it’s the main reason table tennis in Nigeria is going
down every now and then,” the German-based player.
Asked when she hopes to quit the game, Oshonaike said:
I’m not going to stop playing until I find anybody that could
beat me. Until the young girls are ready to take over and if
they are not ready, I’ll keep on playing for my country. After
all, my family and children are not disturbing me. They love
seeing me play. But as soon as I see any serious
contender, I’ll throw-in the towel and take a bow.”
The player is hoping to one day, coach the national team
after her career which she admitted was at its twilight if the
Nigeria Table Tennis Federation deemed it fit to contract
her as a coach. “I would gladly accept the offer to coach
the country if it would mean adding quality to Nigerian table
tennis. After all, I’m over 40 years with lots of experience
in the game during my long stay abroad. I understand those
areas many Nigerian players are lacking which have in
most cases prevented them from rising to the world stage
in the game,” she noted.
Her feat however did not go unnoticed as the Minister of
Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, advised Nigerian
athletes to emulate the performance of Oshonaike.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media,
Nneka Anibeze, the minister said her performance at the
just concluded ITTF Africa Senior Championship in Agadir,
Morocco, was remarkable and a pride to the nation. He
noted with satisfaction that Oshonaike reclaimed her
African women’s singles title at the Championships 24
years after winning it. Dalung said that the ability of
Oshonaike to remain competitive at the continental stage at
41 years, was proof that an athlete could remain relevant
for a long time if he or she was disciplined. He added that
Oshonaike’s performance in the competition where she won
the mixed doubles silver alongside Segun Toriola and a gold
medal in the women singles was a pointer to that fact.
“There is nothing like impossible with the right levels of
preparation, mental strength and the desire to win,’’ he said.
He called on other sport federations to emulate the “self-
sufficient stance” of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation,
stressing the need for sports federations to establish
vibrant marketing department saddled with sourcing for
funds to run their activities while the government would
continue to create the enabling environment for sports to
thrive.
For every glorious career, there is always a starting point;
Oshonaike’s foray into table tennis began at her teenage
years in elementary school in the streets of Somolu, a
bustling town in Lagos State. At that age of her life, passion
for the sports helped to water the ground for this life
expedition. While in Somolu, Oshonaike started developing
this potential which she describes as a ‘talent from God’
using a makeshift table and soak away slabs to play the
game with her elder brother.
From there, the ship took sail to her secondary school,
where she started representing the school at competitions,
earning her awards and recognition from the school
principal, who recognised this budding talent and decided to
propel her to greatness. This opportunity did not only
launch her to limelight, but set her apart as a rare talent.
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