Olufunke Oshanaike, Africa’s Table Tennis queen, believes that the challenges facing Table Tennis players in the country were lack of qualify coaching and dearth of equipment.
She came to this conclusion after the clinic she organized for players that ended at the weekend in Lagos.
Oshonaike, who was surprised at the quality of players that took part in the clinic admitted that lack of quality coaches and dearth of equipments were the main obstacles to Nigerian players.
“I am impressed with the talents of the players. I had thought that things have gone bad and that we are lacking in quality players. But after spending one week with the junior players, I was surprised with the quality of the players in terms of their raw talents.
“This has made me to conclude that it is not that we are lacking in talents, the only problem is getting the right coaching for these young players. The idea of a coach scolding a player because he or she fails to win a match is a thing of the past. These players are ready to work hard but they need support and encouragement from the coaches and this can motivate them to do well.
“A coach must be like a father and mother to the players for them to learn from such coach and if all these are not there, there is nothing you can teach the players. Also coaches must also understand that these are young players and you must let them have fun for them to enjoy what they are doing. But If you insist of being strict every time, they will be reluctant to learn and this is also another major factor,” she said.
“This has made me to conclude that it is not that we are lacking in talents, the only problem is getting the right coaching for these young players. The idea of a coach scolding a player because he or she fails to win a match is a thing of the past. These players are ready to work hard but they need support and encouragement from the coaches and this can motivate them to do well.
“A coach must be like a father and mother to the players for them to learn from such coach and if all these are not there, there is nothing you can teach the players. Also coaches must also understand that these are young players and you must let them have fun for them to enjoy what they are doing. But If you insist of being strict every time, they will be reluctant to learn and this is also another major factor,” she said.
To sustain what she had started, she disclosed that she hopes to partner Segun Toriola for future clinic in order to inspire the young players to see the opportunity in the sport.
“I am hoping that Toriola and I can work together for another clinic because these players just need more encouragement for them to become stars like us. I just hope we can have the time before this year’s Lagos Open to stage another clinic for these players because they need that consistency now. This kind of exercise should not be a one-off event,” said Oshonaike.
“I am hoping that Toriola and I can work together for another clinic because these players just need more encouragement for them to become stars like us. I just hope we can have the time before this year’s Lagos Open to stage another clinic for these players because they need that consistency now. This kind of exercise should not be a one-off event,” said Oshonaike.
Hello, my name is Jack Sparrow. I'm a 50 year old self-employed Pirate from the Caribbean.
No comments