Union Bank players and officials celebrating their titles at the 49th Asoju-Oba Cup, which ended at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos…at the weekend.
Jamiu Azeez and Bose Odusanya at the weekend emerged champions in the men and women’s categories of the 49th Asoju Oba Molade Okoya-Thomas Table Tennis Cup held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.
Azeez mauled David Fayele of the Union Bank Sports Club 4-0 in a no match contest, while Odusanya easily retained the title she won last year by also trouncing Alimot Ayinla 4-0 in the final of the women’s cadre.
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Speaking on his victory after several attempts, Azeez, a semifinalist at the 2015 edition, said, “Finally, my dream of becoming one of the winners of this prestigious competition has come to pass. This is a competition I started competing as a cadet player and later in the junior event, which I won on numerous occasions.
“I came close to the senior title in the 2015 edition but I was sent packing in the semifinal phase and now my dream has come true. Though I will say that this victory came easier for me in the final to claiming the title.”
The chairman of the grand finale, Oba Otudeko, extolled the family of late Molade Okoya-Thomas for upholding the championship after the death of the creator.
“The children of late Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas must be commended for continuing the ideals of their late father by ensuring that the tournament goes on three years after the exit of their father”.
“Sport is a unifying factor in Nigeria and table tennis is not an exception. I hope and believe we can get more superstars from this competition after the likes of Atanda Musa, Bose Kaffo and Funke Oshonaike came through it,” Otudeko said.
Over 336 players took part in this year’s championship in the cadet, junior and senior events with 138 senior, 134 junior and 74 cadet players for the 22 titles available.
Source: G Sport
