Oshodi reveals plans for African table tennis

Newly elected African Table Tennis Federation President, Wahid Oshodi, has outlined his vision for the sport on the continent, emphasising growth and youth development as key priorities for his tenure.

Speaking to the press after his unanimous election in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Tuesday, Oshodi expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support he received and highlighted the importance of building on the foundation laid by his predecessor.

“We must give kudos to the outgoing president. A lot of hard work has been done. Now it’s time to bring table tennis to the fore in Africa,” Oshodi stated. “We’re chasing sports like athletics, basketball, and football. I think we can catch up with them.”

The former Lagos State Commissioner for Youth, Sports, and Social Development reiterated his commitment to nurturing young talent across the continent.

“My focus in table tennis ever since I was chairman in Lagos has been youth development,” he said.

“We have so much talent, as we’ve seen in our youth tournaments all over Africa, but now is the time to get them playing.”

Oshodi, who became the second Nigerian to hold the ATTF presidency after Engr. Segun George, noted the importance of aligning African table tennis with global trends. “The top players in the world now are under 20 years old; our players have to be in that category,” he added.

The new ATTF president also highlighted the need for increased funding and corporate support to achieve these goals, saying, “What has lacked in table tennis in Africa is the support from the corporate world. I believe we have the talent on this team to get the corporate world on board.”

Oshodi’s election has been met with widespread approval, including a congratulatory message from President Bola Tinubu, who described it as “a proud moment for Nigeria.”

Tinubu praised Oshodi’s integrity, accountability, and dedication, expressing confidence in his ability to elevate ATTF and the sport across the continent.

Oshodi’s journey in sports administration began in 2000 when he was appointed to the Lagos State Sports Council Governing Board by then-Governor Bola Tinubu. His tenure as Lagos State Commissioner saw the successful hosting of the “Eko 2012” National Sports Festival and the introduction of the International Sports Classics series.

As he takes on the continental role, Oshodi brings his wealth of experience, including his previous positions as Deputy President of ATTF and Executive Vice President of the International Table Tennis Federation.

With his unanimous election underscoring the confidence of African table tennis stakeholders, Oshodi now faces the challenge of steering the sport to greater heights on the continent, focusing on grassroots development, increased funding, and elevating Africa’s presence in global table tennis.