The newly elected President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Wahid Enitan Oshodi, has immediately called on the private sector to support table tennis, similar to other sports. Oshodi, who was unanimously elected as the 6th President of the continental sports body, succeeded Egypt’s Khaled El-Salhy and praised his predecessor for his dedication to the sport.
“I think the support I have received has been overwhelming, and the team we have built has been very supportive. We must also commend the outgoing President for his excellent work, and we hope to continue from where he left off. It is time to bring table tennis to the forefront in Africa, alongside sports like athletics, football, and basketball. We have many young talents in Africa, and now is the time to help them reach the top of world table tennis,” Oshodi said.
“We cannot continue to rely solely on government and ITTF funding for our tournaments and activities. It is time to involve private and corporate bodies to help grow the sport’s fortunes and hopefully raise the standard to produce more superstars in Africa,” Oshodi added.
He also emphasized the importance of unity among member associations in Africa, stating that unity would help achieve more for the continent.
Reelected Executive Vice President of Finance, Hajera Kajee of South Africa described Oshodi’s election as a testament to his achievements in the sport. She expressed optimism in his ability to transform table tennis in Africa.
Newly elected ITTF Council member, Olabanji Oladapo, echoed this sentiment, highlighting Oshodi’s commitment and passion for the sport and calling for more support for the new board to surpass the achievements of previous ATTF administrations.
