NTTF, Oshonaike Mourn Former National Junior Star, Azeez Ogunlade

The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) has expressed shock over the untimely demise of former national junior star, Azeez Ogunlade, who died on Sunday after a brief illness.

According to the Secretary General of NTTF, Chinedu Ezeala-Ogundare, the passing on of the 20 year-old Ogunlade was disheartening as the player had started playing his way into the senior national team after a successful stint as a cadet cum junior player.

“It is shocking that Ogunlade had to die at this time because he has getting himself closer to the senior national team. His death came as shock to everybody in the table tennis family and we are yet to get over his demise. As a cadet and junior player, he had represented the country at international tournaments starting with the 2008 African Junior Championship in Egypt and his last international outing was at the last African Club Championship in Cameroun this year where he represented Union Bank,” she said.

The scribe who was part of the team to Tournament in Cameroon described the late Ogunlade as a humble and determined athlete whose passion for the game cannot be underestimated. “The country will surely miss this young player and we sympathise with his family and all table tennis family in Nigeria, African and the world that such a player could depart at a prime age,” she added.

Azeez Ogunlade

Also, a saddened Germany-based Funke Oshonaike wrote on her Facebook wall yesterday, “Can somebody please tell me this is not true! Just read that my table tennis brother Ogunlade Azeez Akinkunmi is dead! I’m so very sad, sick, confused and very empty right now.. Oh my God , I cannot believe this oooooo

Italy-based Michael Oyebode wrote, “This is so shocking to me, what happened to you Ogunlade Azeez Akinkunmi? I know you can’t tell us, but God is the judge over everything! I’m totally speechless and profoundly sad, rest in perfect peace.”

In 2009, it was Ogunlade’s heroic display that gave Nigeria the cadet title at the 18th African Junior Table Tennis Championship, the Egypt Open.

Bello Shines As Nigeria Finishes Third At ITTF African Clubs Championships

Debutant Ahmed Bello dazzled as Nigeria’s Union Bank Sports Club yesterday finished third at the 2015 ITTF African Club Championships concluded in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Bello who was making his international debut for the bankers’ team failed to save the team from losing 3-0 to Egypt’s Ahly in the semifinal stage of the men’s event at the Multi-Purpose Complex in Yaounde.

To make it to the last four, Union Bank tutored by Coach Samson Ajayi nearly caused an upset in their first group match against defending champions, Club Avenir of Congo Brazzaville made up Chinese-born stars – Jianan Wang and Bin Hu as well as their Nigerian imports – Suraju Saka and Saheed Idowu.

Ahmed Bello Union Bank Sports Club

After Azeez Ogunlade fell to Wang 3-0, debutant Ahmed Bello caused the biggest upset of the competition when he defeated Africa’s number six ranked player, Suraju Saka 3-2 to give the Nigerian team a ray of hope. But David Fayele could not withstand Saheed Idowu as he was beaten 3-0. Again, Ahmed Bello became the cynosure of all eyes as he gave Wang a run for his money in the fourth match and without any doubt it was the experience of the Chinese that aided his 3-1 triumph over the unknown Nigerian. The Congolese team won 3-1.

However, this defeat did not dampen the spirit of the young Nigerians as they walloped their counterparts from Cameroon and Ethiopia to set up a semifinal clash against Ahly of Egypt which has top players like Omar Assar, El-Sayed Lashin and Mohammed El-Beiali. The Nigerian side surrendered to the Egyptians to settle for bronze medal.

However, Saheed Idowu was particularly thrilled with the performance of Bello, saying, “He played as if everything was at stake and he never bothered about the pedigree of his opponent especially being his first international outing. I am impressed and I hope players like this can be encouraged in Nigeria,” Idowu said.

Lagos ITTF World Tour: Onaolapo, Omotayo, Others Berth In Quarterfinal Of U-21

Defending champion, Nigeria’s Ojo Onaolapo, Olajide Omotyao and three other Nigerians as well as three Egyptians secured their places in the quarterfinal stage of the ongoing International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Tour, Lagos Open holding at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Onaolapo, who is seeded number one had an easy passage to the last eight, as he overrun compatriot, Joshun Oladiran 11-4, 11-5, 11-6, while Italy-based Omotayo also surmounted Michael Obayomi 11-6, 11-7, 10-12, 11-6 to set up a quarterfinal battle against compatriot, Akinwale Fagbamila, who had accounted for the exit of Sunday Akomolafe in the round of 16 encounter.

Joseph Osedunkwu also suffered defeat in the hand of Olasunkanmi Oginni, who is expected to tackle Omotayo in the last eight.

Egypt’s Ahmed Mabrouk sent his compatriot packing in the last 16 battle of two brothers with 11-9, 11-8, 5-11, 11-7 win over Sayed Ramadan.

Nigeria’s Azeez Solanke was no match to Egypt’s Mahmoud Fathy as the teenager star fell 6-11, 4-11, 1-11 to his superior opponent.

Experienced former national junior player, Azeez Ogunlade was made to raise his game as he managed to beat Babatunde Babafemi 6-11, 11-5, 11-4, 11-9.

However the entertaining match between Nigeria’s Nurudeen Hassan and Egypt’s Shady Magdy became the star match in the category as unknown Hassan gave the African junior champion a run for his money during the clash.

Joseph Osedunkwu

Like a true Nigerian, Hassan fought well but his skills cannot match the superb display by the North African as he surrendered the Magdy 13-11, 1-11, 10-12, 9-11.

In the quarterfinal pairing, Onaolapo will battle Oginni, Mabrouk confronts Fathy, while Omotayo and Fagbamila will slug it out.

Familiar foe, Ogunlade and Magdy will again battle themselves for a place in the last four of the event.

A confident Magdy said he is familiar with Ogunlade having played against him at cadet and junior tournaments.