The game of table tennis in Kwara state is set to take a new leap as the bid to organize the second edition of Kwara State First Lady U-14 inter- local government Table Tennis championship received the endorsement of the Kwara State Sports Commission.
An initiative of Grassroots Sports Association, under the leadership of Comrade Dare Omowumi Adebayo, the tournament, tagged ‘Mummy Olufolake Catch Them Young 2021’ is expected to cascade all the 16 local government area of the state with a view to discover talents and expose them.
Speaking during a courtesy call on the Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission, Coach Bola Mogaji in his office on Wednesday, Comrade Dare applauded the state Governor for his giant strides in sports development in the state, as he also congratulate Coach Mogaji on his appointment.
“The competition is expected to consume over 15 million naira, this includes buying of 16 standard table tennis boards, feeding of over 100 players and officials expected from the 16 Local Government Areas and their accommodation”, says the Coordinator who believes the project will boost sports development.
In his own remarks, Executive Chairman of the Commission, Coach Bola Mogaji, while emphasizing the need for the organizers to prioritize using the tournament to discover talents at the grassroots, believed that the initiative will reduce social vices and help maintain the status of the state as the hub of the ping pong game, owing to the array of stars it has produced in the past.
Sola Owolabi, the Caretaker Chairman of Kwara State Table Tennis Association charged the organizers to improve the championship in its second edition, while assuring them of the association continued support.
At the event were the Consultant for the Championship and ace sportscaster, Bayour Issah; Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Kwara chapter, Jimoh Bashir; the Director of Sports, Mallam Alarape Atanda and a host of others.
