…while NTTF denies Toriola as National head coach
By Philips Robinson-Adefioye, UK
The Nigeria Table Tennis Coaches Association (NTTCA) says the early exit of Team Nigeria in the ongoing of the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships in Busan, South Korea is uncall for.
Chairman of the NTTCA, Adeniyi Oladipupo who made this statement on behalf of the Association in an exclusive telephone chat with www.sunrisetimes.com.ng expressed huge dissatisfaction of the Team Nigeria’s poor performance, impromptu arrangement and imposition of a coach on the team without consulting the Association, was disrespectful.
Oladipupo said chosen former Africa champion, Segun Toriola by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation(NTTF), under the leadership of Ishaku Tikon to be the National head coach without Association consent was a disregard at the highest order.
“It was since last week that my attention was called on this issue of Segun Toriola that he has been made the Head coach of the NTTF to lead Team Nigeria to ITTF, World Table Tennis Championships in Busan, South Korea from our members, on the Radios, newspapers and online reports.
” But my reply to them was that I have not heard it from the NTTF, the ministry has not breef us and as far as I am concerned it is not an official thing.
” I called an exco emergency meeting because the callings were too much, I received more than thirty calls within 24 hours. In that exco meeting we deliberated to make our complain known to the President of NTTF with evidence attached to our letter to him”.
According to Oladipopo, immediately after the meeting he said he rang NTTF President Ishaku Tikon who denied that he has know knowledge of Segun Toriola being made the National head coach to lead Team Nigeria to the World Championship and creation of website for the team.
Oladipopo who is an instructor at the National Institute of Sports stressed that, it is bizarre seeing a player open a website for his country or the Federation he belong to without the consent of the country or the Federation, is an impersonation of the highest order.
“Website is not just an ordinary social link, it is the image and culture of your country and it has to be controlled by the secretariat of the Federation not from an individual”.
In Tikon’s response, Oladipopo stated that he promised to carry out some investigations and consultations adding that there is no way a new National coach will emerged without consulting and meeting with the stakeholders.
” There is no way a new National coach will be announced without consulting or meeting with the stakeholders which the Nigeria Table Tennis Coaches Association is one of major stakeholder.
Tikon said whenever the consultation is available the NTTCA will be notified and there will be a round table discussion to see who is appropriate to be the new National coach.
“With that, I get back to the coaches, and I told them that Mr Tikon said Segun Toriola, being said to be the new National coach was a rumour but the coach should relax and have in their mind that there is no cause for alarm” he stressed.
