The newly-elected President of the African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), Wahid Oshodi, on Wednesday called on the private sector to support table tennis.
Oshodi, who was unanimously elected as the sixth president of the continental sports body, succeeded Egypt’s Khaled El-Salhy.
A statement issued by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) said that the election was held at the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
“I think the support I have received has been overwhelming, and the team we have built has been very supportive.
” We must also commend the outgoing president for his excellent work, and we hope to continue from where he left off.
“It is time to bring table tennis to the forefront in Africa, alongside sports like athletics, football, and basketball.
“We have many young talents in Africa, and now is the time to help them reach the top of world table tennis.
“We cannot continue to rely solely on government and ITTF funding for our tournaments and activities.
“It is time to involve private and corporate bodies to help grow the sport’s fortunes and hopefully raise the standard to produce more superstars in Africa,” Oshodi said.
He also emphasised the importance of unity among member associations in Africa, stating that unity would help achieve more for the continent.
Re-elected Executive Vice President of Finance, Hajera Kajee of South Africa, described Oshodi’s election as a testament to his achievements in the sport.
She expressed optimism in his ability to transform table tennis in Africa.
Also, newly- elected ITTF Council member, Olabanji Oladapo, highlighted Oshodi’s commitment and passion for the sport.
Oladapo called for more support for the new board to surpass the achievements of previous ATTF administrations. (NAN)
