Nigeria’s home-based table tennis stars, Fatimah Bello and Abosede Odusanya, have called on table tennis authorities to believe in them and give them a chance to represent the country in international competitions.

They made the call in separate interviews sequel to their scintillating performances at the 2022 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) competitions.

Bello expressed her readiness to be Nigeria’s next big table tennis star, noting that she was preparing to step into the shoes of Nigeria’s great female table tennis stars such as Bose Kafo and Funke Oshonaike if given a chance.

“I don’t think there is that wide difference between the foreign-based players and us. 

“We need the federation and the people at the helm to believe in us, we can do it like the foreign-based. We only need more exposure to international competitions.

“If we are not presented for the qualifiers for big events like the All Africa Games and the Olympics, how will they know our potential?” she said.

Odusanya, on her part, stated that she had the mindset to be at the Olympics anytime soon, adding that she had a mind of winning her games.

“I can beat any top-rated player in Africa, but we are often not considered good enough to play at the international events, and I ask how they can test our abilities.

“Olympic participation has been my dream, but we are not involved in Olympic qualifiers, so our abilities are not tested. Our federation only concentrates on some particular set of players.

“If we have the same opportunities like the foreign-based players, we will perform better, and I am ready for that challenge if given the opportunity, especially at the Olympics,” she said.

Nigeria had hosted a weeklong three separate ITTF tournaments tagged: “Festival of Table Tennis” at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

The first tournament, World Championships Regional Qualification, had eight West African countries.

The female singles was won by Nigeria’s Bello, who defeated her counterpart, Odusanya, at the finals.

The second tournament, ITTF African Club Championships, was also won by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), comprising the trio of Nigeria’s Bello, Halimat Hussein, and Esther Oribamise.

The NSDC team defeated their counterparts, Ocean Front, consisting of Odusanya, Ajoke Ojomu, and Sukurat Aiyelabegan in the finals 3-2.

(NAN)