2017 ITTF World Cup: Aruna Quadri needs quality coach to excel – Oladapo
NAN-S-11
Coach
Lagos, July 6, 2017 (NAN) Olabanji Oladapo, the Vice -President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) on Thursday said that Nigeria’s sensational tennis player, Aruna Quadri needs a quality coach to excel at the 2017 ITTF World Cup.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the world cup for men is scheduled to hold in October in Belgium, while the women’s championship will take place in Canada.
Oladapo called for a well knowledgeable coach to manage the player having watched Quadri’s beat his arch rival, Egytian Omar Assar, without the help of a coach at the 2017 ITTF Africa Cup men’s single final in Morroco.
According to the former Secretary General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee,“ successes recorded by most Nigerian athletes at the major international competitions was through self determination.
“It was through self motivation and determination, not through technical input by our coaches.
“We don’t have people with modern day technical know-how handling our athletes any more.
“It is a known fact that we lack quality coaches in Nigeria, it is a statement of fact that we don’t have the coaches that can handle the likes of Aruna Quadri.
“I watched the final between Quadri and Assar and it was technically balanced.
“But for Quadri to do well at the world cup, he will need highly technically sound coach to excel.
“Unfortunately Nigeria don’t have a coach of that caliber and we need to get one if we need more of Quadri to come through our system as we have many Quadris rotting away in our system.
“As it is, Quadri needs a world class coach to tutor him at the ITTF World Cup because his quality is beyond what any local coach can handle for now,’’ Oladapo said.
He said that adequate attention must be given to the technical area of Nigeria sports administration to enhance discovery and nurturing of players.
“Lack of good coaches and other technical personnel is really affecting our players and development of sports in our country.
“Most of our coaches don’t have the wherewithal to impart knowledge on our players.
“ That is the reason I am calling for engagement of top class coach to cater for national teams players at all levels,’’ he said.
NAN reports that Quadri won the men’s category of the ATTF championship, while Egypt’s Dina Meshref won the women category.
Both players will represent Africa at the ITTF World Cups in Belgium and Canada respectively.(NAN)
KOA/DEB/MZA
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(Edited by Debo Oshundun/Maharazu Ahmed)